GRASSES OF OHIO 329 



cence, the carpellate spikelet covered by a hardening bead-like sheath, 

 bluish-gray in color and shining when ripe, the staminate inflores- 

 cence small and projecting on a slender pedicel from the bead-like 

 sheath. 



Grown for the ornamental fruits which are used as beads and 

 for rosaries. In waste places around gardens. July-Sept. Persistent 

 in Franklin County. 



68. Zea L. Indian-corn. 



Tall coarse annual grasses with solid stems, large broad flat 

 leaves, prominent prop roots, and a monecious inflorescence, the 

 staminate spikelets in an ample panicle at the summit of the stem, 

 and the carpellate spikelets on an ear covered with husks at the 

 side of the main stem. Staminate and carpellate, spikelets sometimes 

 in the same panicle. Staminate spikelets 2-flowered, in pairs, one 

 sessile and the other pediceled ; carpellate spikelets always in double 

 rows on the ear, usually 2-flowered, the outer flower vestigial ; style 

 of the gynecium a very long "silk" ; empty glumes thick-membranous 

 or coriaceous ; flowering glumes hyaline ; grain large, free. 



1. Zea mays L. Indian-corn. A tall, coarse, annual grass 

 with broad leaves and a thick, solid, erect stem, 3-15 ft. high, de- 

 veloping prominent prop-roots at the basal joints, an ample staminate 

 panicle at the top, and one or more peculiar, compact, carpellate in- 

 florescences at the side, called ears, covered with peculiar leaf- 

 sheaths or husks ; grain large, exposed, with a very long style or silk. 



Extensively cultivated in many varieties for grain, green corn, 

 and fodder. Many products are made from the grain. The stigmas 

 of the silk are used in medicine. In fields and waste places. June- 

 Sept. Also called maize. Spontaneous in Brown, Adams, Scioto, 

 Fayette, Monroe, Erie, and Hancock Counties. 



