Observation guide
What to look for
- 01
Separate inflorescences: the male tassel occupies the tip of the stem; the female ears appear in the leaf axils.
- 02
Annual life cycle: it completes its cycle of growth, flowering, and death in one season.
Lighting, age and viewing angle can hide features. If identification affects consumption, handling or conservation, consult specialist sources.
Ecology
Description and characteristics
Zea mays is an annual grass in the family Poaceae. In its reproductive phase, it has separate male and female inflorescences: the male ones develop in a terminal tassel, while the female ones appear in ears in the axils of the vegetative leaves.
As in other grasses, its inflorescences are organized into spikelets, units that contain one or more flowers. In the male tassel, the stamens develop while the carpels abort early.
