Zea mays L.

Spice Roof Female flower Male flower In the field

Family: GRAMINEAE (POACEAE)

Genus: Zea

Catalan common name: Blat d'indi. Blat de les indies. Blat de moro. Panís.

Spanish common name: Maíz de Indias. Panico de Indias.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands. Girona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): America

Uses and properties: Edible or foodstuffs.

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated species. Cultivated specie.

Characteristics: Corn or Maize is not a typical representative of the Graminae as it has unisexual flowers. The male flowers appear at the top of the plant, this way they can more effectively disperse their pollen; the female flowers are found in the leaf axils. Naturally, this is where we find the entire maize ear, well wrapped in leaf bundles.