Living BeingsCompare species
Maize
Zea mays
African Baobab
Adansonia digitata
How to compare two organisms
Choose two species and trace their closest shared group. Then compare a trait with the same definition on each side. Check the units, life stage and context before interpreting a measurement or range.
Missing data means that the collection lacks a sourced value. Where a characteristic does not apply to a lineage, the comparison labels it separately. Open the two profiles for context and follow their sources before drawing a conclusion.
Evidence from the profiles
Compare their characteristics
| Trait | Maize | African Baobab |
|---|---|---|
| Physical traits | An upright stem carries broad leaves. Tassels form near the top, while ears develop in leaf axils. | Thick, fibrous bark surrounds a broad trunk. Each compound leaf has several leaflets radiating from a central point. |
| Habitat and range | Cultivation depends on suitable warmth, light, water and soil conditions. Different cultivars are adapted to different growing environments. | A terrestrial tree of tropical Africa, it is adapted to seasonally dry conditions and is also planted in gardens and settlements. |
| Diet and nutrition | Leaves produce sugars that support growth and developing kernels. Mature grain stores substantial reserves for germination. | Leaves produce sugars through photosynthesis. Water and mineral nutrients are taken up through the roots. |
| Behavior and activity | Flowering and grain filling respond to seasonal conditions. Wind moves pollen between tassels and receptive silks. | Data unavailable |
| Reproduction and life cycle | A seed germinates into an annual plant. Fertilization through the silks leads to kernels on the ear, each representing a separate developing grain. | Large, hanging white flowers develop into capsules containing seeds embedded in pale, powdery pulp. New trees can be grown from seed. |
| Geographic distribution | Maize is cultivated widely outside its American domestication region. Agricultural range should be distinguished from native wild-relative distributions. | Native to Africa and cultivated elsewhere. The accompanying photograph shows a planted specimen in Madagascar; that location should not be confused with the native range of every baobab species. |
| Ecological role | Maize is central to agricultural food webs and supplies food and habitat for many associated organisms. | Its flowers, fruit and extensive woody structure provide biological resources. The familiar name baobab also applies to other species, which should not be confused with this one. |
| Distinctive adaptations | Domestication has concentrated large numbers of kernels on ears, accompanied by extensive cultivar diversity. | A substantial trunk and drought-resistant growth form help distinguish this tree from many humid-forest trees. |
| Conservation | Preserving landraces, breeding resources and wild relatives is different from assessing crop abundance. | Data unavailable |
Classification
Shared ancestry
Closest shared taxon: Mesangiospermae.