Zea mays, 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

1. Z. mays L. , Sp. Pl. 971 (1753).

Stems up to 4(-9) m, 2-6 cm in diameter, solid, erect, rooting at the lower nodes. Leaves 3—12(—15) cm wide, undulate; ligule 3-5 mm, truncate. Male inflorescence up to 20 x 20 cm, erect; spikelets 6—15 mm. Female inflorescences c. 20 cm; peduncles with short internodes; styles 15-25(-40) cm, exserted from the apex of the sheaths at and after anthesis; caryopsis 5-10 mm, dorsiventrally compressed, usually cuneiform. Extensively cultivated for its grain (maize, corn) in S. & S.C. Europe, and more recently as green fodder in parts of N. Europe. [All except Da Fa Fe Is No Su Rs (N, B) Sb.] (Not known wild; first cultivated in Mexico.)

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