Leaf
David J. Stang, Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Maize
Zea mays L.
Also known as: Sweetcorn, Corn
Family: Poaceae
1.50 to 3 m tall
Grown as a field crop and in vegetable gardens, rich soils
Flowering: July – August
Full sun
Not hardy, frost-sensitive, grown as an annual
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Each kernel of maize on the cob corresponds to a single strand of 'silk' — each of these long styles must receive a grain of pollen for the corresponding kernel to form.
🍃 Leaves
Long, strap-like, sheathing, with parallel veins
🌸 Flowers
Monoecious plant: terminal male panicle ('tassel'), lateral female ears enclosed in spathes, with long thread-like styles ('silks')
🍎 Fruits
Ear bearing many kernels arranged in regular rows
🪵 Bark
Sturdy, solid, ribbed, unbranched stem
🗺️ Distribution
Native to Central America; one of the most widely grown cereals in France
🐝 Value for pollinators
Pollinated mainly by wind; the abundant pollen is nevertheless collected by some bees
✂️ Horticultural uses
Major cereal grown for human and animal food and for industry; also grown in the vegetable garden (sweetcorn)
⚠️ Possible toxicity
Kernels edible; no known toxicity
🌿 Other Poaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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