Zea L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1980, Flora Europaea. Volume 5. Alismataceae to Orchidaceae (Monocotyledones), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press : 267

155. Zea L. 1

Annual. Leaves flat. Male inflorescence a terminal panicle of spike-like racemes; female inflorescences axillary, of numerous spikelets arranged in longitudinal rows on a thickened axis, the whole enclosed in leaf-sheaths. Male spikelets in pairs, one subsessile, theotherpedicellate; florets 2; glumes equal, membranous; lemma and palea hyaline; stamens 3; lodicules 2. Female spikelets with 2 florets, the lower sterile; glumes wider than long, fleshy below, hyaline above; lemmas short, hyaline; lodicules absent; style long, shortly 2-fld at apex, hairy throughout its length.