80 Bulletin V. 2. 



Fig. 35. Zea Mays L. — Indian Corn. In the center above is the 

 upper part of single stalk, reduced to i-io its natural size, showing 

 the terminal male or staminate inflorescence (the "spindle," or 

 "tassel,") and in the axil of the third leaf from the base is the female 

 or pistillate inflorescence enveloped in broad, leafy bracts. At the 

 base of the figure on the right side this female inflorescence is 

 shown more clearly; the hair-like tuft at the apex is formed by the 

 projecting slender styles or stigmas (the "silk.") To the left at the 

 base of the figure is shown an "ear" of corn, the kernels being the 

 matured ovaries from which the styles have disappeared. In the 

 upper left-hand corner of the figure are two staminate spikelets, 

 one sessile, the other raised on a short pedicel. B^ a female 

 spikelet; C/, O, Cj, empty glumes; Z>, flowering glume; E and Ei, 

 palets; in the center of this figure is the ovary or young grain 

 with a portion of the style attached, y^, the pistil. 6^, lodicules. 



The flowers of Indian Corn are unisexual, the one male or 

 staminate, the other female or pistillate; both are born upon the 

 same plant, but each is in a separate inflorescence. 



