Zea mays L.

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular

cangil, canguil, capi, capí, choclo, chulpe, granizo, maicillo, maíz, maíz azulito, maíz berrendo, maíz blanco, maíz brisa, maíz cacho de buey, maíz capio, maíz cariaco, maíz cariaco amarillo, maíz cariaco rayado, maíz cariaco rojo, maíz chococito, maíz chócolo, maíz cuba, maíz cucuracho, maíz dientecaballo, maíz guajiro, maíz huevito, maíz javao, maíz lomo bayo amarillo, maíz manteca, maíz minga, maíz negrito, maíz ojo de gallo, maíz pano, maíz piedrecita, maíz piedrita, maíz pira, maíz pochó, maíz pompo, maíz porva, maíz roíta, maíz sangre toro, maíz tacaloa amarillo, maíz tacaloa mojoso, maíz vela amarillo, maíz vela blanco, maíz venezolano, maíz Yucatán, morocho, pira, pisingallo, pito, zara

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/77726273/77726310

Conservation

LC - least concern

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Vernacular

CORN, MAIZE

Morphology General Habit

A tall annual, extremely variable in size of plant and character of the pistillate inflorescences

Morphology Leaves

Leaves conspicuously distichous, the blades up to 7 cm broad or more

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences monoecious, the staminate flowers in spike-like racemes, these numerous, forming large spreading panicles terminating the culms; pistillate inflorescences in the axils of the leaves, the spikelets in 8–16 (or even to 30) rows on a thickened, almost woody axis (cob), the whole enclosed in numerous large foliaceous bracts (husks), the long styles (silk) protruding from the top as a silky mass of threads.

Distribution

No specimens have been collected in the Cayman Islands, but it is commonly cultivated. Grown in all tropical and temperate regions; apparently of tropical American origin.

The Useful Plants of Boyacá project

Ecology

Alt. 0 - 3000 m.

Morphology General Habit

Herb.

Conservation

Least concern.

Distribution

Native and cultivated in Colombia.

Vernacular

Maiki, mayi.

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Amazonia, Andean, Guiana Shield, Caribbean, Orinoquia, Pacific. Elevation range: 0–3000 m a.s.l. Cultivated in Colombia. Naturalised in Colombia. Colombian departments: Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlántico, Bogotá DC, Bolívar, Boyacá, Caldas, Caquetá, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Chocó, Cundinamarca, Guainía, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindío, Risaralda, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupés, Vichada. Found in Boyacá, Colombia.

Habit

Herb.

Conservation

IUCN Red List Assessment (2021): LC.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, native grassland, wetlands (inland), inland rocky areas, desert, artificial - terrestrial.

Vernacular

Maiki, Maíz, Mayi

Morphology General Habit

Annual. Culms erect; 200-300 cm long; with prop roots. Culm-internodes solid. Leaves cauline. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 25-100 cm long; 20-100 mm wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in different inflorescences. Inflorescence composed of racemes; axillary; subtended by a spatheole; enclosed. Spatheole elliptic; herbaceous. Racemes 1; single; multilateral. Rhachis enlarged into a woody cob. Spikelet packing crowded; regular; 4-11 -rowed. Spikelets sunken; in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 2 in the cluster. Male inflorescence terminal; unlike female; of racemes along a central axis. Male spikelets distinct from female. Male spikelet glumes 2; wingless; muticous. Male spikelet lemma 3-5 -veined; muticous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; dorsally compressed; persistent on plant.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; dorsally compressed; persistent on plant.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblate; 1 length of spikelet; scarious; of similar consistency above; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume margins ciliate. Upper glume oblate; scarious; of similar consistency above; without keels; 0 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume margins ciliate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Basal sterile florets barren; with palea, or without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; membranous; 0 -veined; without midvein; without lateral veins. Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma orbicular; membranous; without keel; 0 -veined.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Lodicules absent (female), or 2 (male). Anthers 3. Stigmas 2; terminally exserted; papillose. Styles connate below.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; exposed between gaping lemma and palea at maturity.

sex Male

Male inflorescence terminal; unlike female; of racemes along a central axis. Male spikelets distinct from female. Male spikelet glumes 2; wingless; muticous. Male spikelet lemma 3-5 -veined; muticous.

Distribution

Europe: northern, central, southwestern, southeastern, and eastern. Africa: north, Macaronesia, west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet far east, Soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus, western Asia, Arabia, China, and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, Malesia, and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia. Pacific: southwestern, south-central, northwestern, and north-central. North America: northwest USA, north-central USA, northeast USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

Reference

Andropogoneae. FTA.

Use Animal Food

Used as animal food.

Use Environmental

Environmental uses.

Use Fuel

Used for fuels.

Use Gene Sources

Used as gene sources.

Use Food

Used for food.

Use Invertebrate Food

Used as invertebrate food.

Use Materials

Used as material.

Use Medicines

Medical uses.

Use Poisons

Poisons.

Use Social

Social uses.