Living Beings
    Source-identified Zea mays; Source-identified documentary image; see the original file for method and context. Framed for display
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    Zea mays Strawberry MHNT.BOT.2018.28.29.jpg · Resized and converted to WebP for display. Source-identified documentary image; see the original file for method and context. Roger Culos · CC BY-SA 3.0

    Field guide · species

    Maize

    Zea mays L., 1753

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    The authority credits the formal scientific description of the name. A year records publication of that description.

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    ViridiplantaeMagnoliopsidaPoalesPoaceae

    Maize is a domesticated grass whose large ears contain rows of kernels. Pollen-producing tassels and seed-bearing ears are separate structures on the same plant, making its reproductive organization especially visible.

    Public research profile · final editorial review pending.

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    Tree of lifeScientific lineage
    1. LifeLife
    2. DomainEukaryota
    3. KingdomViridiplantae
    4. PhylumStreptophyta
    5. ClassMagnoliopsida
    6. OrderPoales
    7. FamilyPoaceae
    8. GenusZea
    9. SpeciesZea mays
    Advanced classification

    Complete source lineage, including intermediate ranks. The standard view uses Life and the eight principal ranks.

    1. cellular organisms cellular root
    2. Eukaryota domain
    3. Viridiplantae kingdom
    4. Streptophyta phylum
    5. Streptophytina subphylum
    6. Embryophyta clade
    7. Tracheophyta clade
    8. Euphyllophyta clade
    9. Spermatophyta clade
    10. Magnoliopsida class
    11. Mesangiospermae clade
    12. Liliopsida clade
    13. Petrosaviidae subclass
    14. commelinids clade
    15. Poales order
    16. Poaceae family
    17. PACMAD clade clade
    18. Panicoideae subfamily
    19. Andropogonodae no rank
    20. Andropogoneae tribe
    21. Tripsacinae subtribe
    22. Zea genus
    23. Zea mays species
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    Structure and identification

    An upright stem carries broad leaves. Tassels form near the top, while ears develop in leaf axils.

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    Habitat and range

    Cultivation depends on suitable warmth, light, water and soil conditions. Different cultivars are adapted to different growing environments.

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    Nutrition and metabolism

    Leaves produce sugars that support growth and developing kernels. Mature grain stores substantial reserves for germination.

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    Biological activity

    Flowering and grain filling respond to seasonal conditions. Wind moves pollen between tassels and receptive silks.

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    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.

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    Geographic distribution

    Maize is cultivated widely outside its American domestication region. Agricultural range should be distinguished from native wild-relative distributions.

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    Ecological role

    Maize is central to agricultural food webs and supplies food and habitat for many associated organisms.

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    Distinctive adaptations

    Domestication has concentrated large numbers of kernels on ears, accompanied by extensive cultivar diversity.

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    Conservation

    Preserving landraces, breeding resources and wild relatives is different from assessing crop abundance.

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    Evidence

    Sources

    Connected life

    No reviewed ecological connections in the collection yet.

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