Why don't you ever see wild corn?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

August 30, 2001

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Corn or maize (Zea mays) [zee maze] is a mystery plant. It is a cultigen because it first appears in the archeological record as a cultivated plant. There is no archeological record of wild corn gathered by nomadic peoples. As if by magic, corn appeared at the start of agriculture. The native legends say that corn was a gift from the gods.

Corn (Zea mays) and teosinte (Zea mays subspecies parviglumis)
Maize Photographic Print Ken Burras View Larger
Buy Photographic Print at AllPosters.com

The development of corn began more than 7,000 years ago in southern Mexico with a large annual tropical grass called teosinte or maiz de coyote (Zea mays subspecies parviglumis). This wild ancestor looks so different that it was years before anyone seriously considered it to be the progenitor of maize. Through natural genetic mutation with humans carefully selecting the traits, corn came into being.

Corn is a completely domesticated plant. The kernels (seeds) adhere tightly to the cob and husks surround the ear. These drastic mutations prevent corn from propagating itself. And hybrid varieties of corn must be backcrossed with earlier types to maintain their vigor. Without the intervention of humans, corn would be extinct.

To view a photograph of the original teosinte ear and ears of natural teosinte mutations, click on the link:

http://www.accessexcellence.com/AB/WYW/fink/corn.html

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Gotta Have It Hybrid Sweet Corn

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

A Sweet Corn WITHOUT EQUAL!

One taste and friends and family will be asking—"Where’d you get it, I’ve Gotta Have It!" We’re proud to introduce a new generation of sweet corn—think of it as the richest, most flavorful corn you’ve ever tasted plus a whole lot of sugar. Its tender, oh-so-sweet kernels give it an amazingly long shelf life—3+ weeks in its husk in the refrigerator!

The superb flavor holds up for a wide range of maturity; it’s very slow to become starchy so you have a longer window of harvest. Unbeatable for freezing—tastes like freshly picked sweet corn in the dead of winter. Shorter-than-average plants are as strong as field corn, and hold their own against the elements and disease to yield large, attractive bicolor ears that are filled to the tips with succulent, sweeter-than-sugar kernels. Approx. 200 seeds per pkt. 78 DAYS. Isolate (250-300 ft. or 3 weeks maturity time) from all se and su varieties. Can be planted with sh2 varieties. Click here - $20 off any order for $50 or more at Gurneys.com!

Comments: Augmented shrunken sweet corns are a new generation of the supersweet corn types. Kernels are extra juicy and tender with sweetness found in shrunken genotype. As with shrunkens, augmented hybrids must be isolated from other non-shrunken types. Plant height is 78". Row count is 16. Vegetable Seeds For Sale - $20 off any order for $50 or more of Gurneys.com!

Hybrid Lil' Indian Ornamental Corn

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Multicolored 3- to 6-inch ears, sized right for craft projects and door decorations. Lil' Indian Hybrid Ornamental Corn has big, broad kernels with amazing color. 100 DAYS.

Zones: 3 - 9 (-30° F.)

Comments: Called 'Calico Miniature' in Field's. Pops white with colored hulls. Colorful favorite of children.

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Rainbow Ornamental Corn

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Gorgeous In A Basket!

Gurney's Choice Improved yields, more colors than older strains. Gorgeous in a basket. 110 DAYS.

Zones: 3 - 9 (-30° F.)

Comments: Open pollinated. Tightly packed, purple, cream colored husks. Easy to grow. Improved yields, more colors than older strains.

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