THE INDIAN CORN 



159 



all of much the same size, one of which is the primary root. 



As the plant grows, 



circles of new short 



roots {brace roots) grow 



from some of the lower 



joints of the stem above 



ground where the leaves 



are attached. The lower 



ones of these new roots 



reach down into the 



soil ; later they shorten 



somewhat, so that the 



plant is firmly anchored 



to the soil. 



182. Flower Clusters; 

 Pistillate Flowers. — 

 The flowers of the com, 

 like those of the cucum- 

 ber, are of two kinds, 

 pistillate and stami- 

 nate. Both kinds are 

 borne in clusters. The 

 cluster of staminate 

 flowers is the " tassel." 

 It is borne at the upper 

 end of the stem, de- 

 veloping from the ter- 

 minal bud. A cluster 



Fig. gg. — A, a spikelet from a young 

 ear of Indian corn, bearing two pistillate 

 flowers, one fuUy developed and one rudi- 

 mentary; a, rough, hairy tip of stigma 

 ("silk") ; b, lower, less hairy part of stigma; 

 c, ovary; d, scale-like leaves (bracts or 

 "chaff"); e, the undeveloped flower. B, a 

 spikelet on a larger scale, with the bracts 



of pistillate flowers is and the greater part of the silk removed ; 



an " ear." It develops 

 from an axillary bud, 

 and so each ear is found 

 in the axil of a leaf. 

 The ear or ears develop 



base of the stigma; b, style; c, ovary; 

 d, rudimentary stamens; e, pistil, and/, one 

 of the stamens, of the undeveloped flower of 

 the spikelet. C, tip of the stigma, which is 

 forked and bears many hairs. D and E, por- 

 tions of the lower part of the stigma as seen 

 from opposite sides. A after Schmeil; 



ordinarily in the axils of B, C, D, E after Weatherwax. 



