MAIZE

(Zea Mays), native name of Indian corn; a gramineous plant indigenous to Mexico, but now cultivated extensively, especially in America and §. Africa. The plant differs considerably from typical gra es in its inflorescence, the florets of which are unisexual. The staminate flowers are ma ed apically, whilst the pistillate ones form a dense aggregate known as a ‘cob,’ with the long filamentous stigmas hanging from the top. The whole cob is protected when young by large sheathing bracts. See Corn, INDIAN.