What is Maize?
Maize, Zea mays, is a cereal used for food, feed and industrial products. Sweet, popcorn and feed cultivars were selected for different traits.
Botany and life cycle
1. Identity and native range Zea mays is a Poaceae crop domesticated in the Americas. Its relationship to teosinte illustrates long human selection. 2. How to recognize it Broad leaves line a stout stem. Male tassels are above female ears. Each silk is a receptive part associated with a potential kernel. 3. Flowering and reproduction Wind carries pollen from tassels to silks. Poor fertilization can leave gaps; heat, water and nutrition affect grain filling.
Ecology, cultivation and uses
4. Habitat and ecology It thrives in warm seasons. Water stress during pollination and grain filling matters. Field-edge habitats can help counter impacts of monoculture. 5. Cultivation and care Sow after frost in suitably warm soil. A tiny single row may pollinate poorly; tailor water and nutrients to local conditions. 6. Uses and cautions Grain is eaten fresh or processed and used for feed and starch. Product type and processing matter for food use.