What Is Zea Mays?

Mays

• The subspecies mays is the only cultivated species of the genus Zea. It includes the common names corn, flint corn, dent corn, popcorn, field corn and pod corn. It is one of the most widely grown crops in the world. It's binomial name is Zea mays L.

Parviglumis

• This subspecies of Zea mays is native to central Mexico. Its common names are balsas teosinte and guerrero teosinte. Thought to be the ancestor of cultivated corn, it grows in empty fields, rocky terrain and is sometimes considered an agrestal weed.

Mexicana

• Native to central and northern regions of Mexico, this subspecies of Zea mays is a teosinte that is commonly found under the names rayana grass, Mexican teosinte and Durango teosinte. This type has a tall, single stalk, much like corn. Its fruit is a thin cob.

Huehuetenangensis

• Huehuetenangensis is another teosinte of the Zea mays species and is native to Guatemala. Its common names are huehuetenango teosinte and San Antonio Huista teosinte. Like the other teosintes, it is a wild grass-like plant with a thin ear of seeds.