1. More on Maize and Its Growth

2. Corn or Maize – Zea mays

3. Zea mays subsp. mexicana Zea mays subsp. mays

4. Variation in ear size and kernel color from Mexican landraces of corn

5. Steps from Teosinte to Maize 1. Maize cobs do not shatter (fall apart) whereas teosinte ears shatter when mature 2.Each teosinte grain is netled in a hard, deep floral structure the cupule and covered by a hard sheath (the glume). The grains of corn are naked and held outside a collapsed cupule 3.Each teosinte cupule contains a single fertile spikelet; maize cupules have two fertile spikelets 4.Teosinte cupules are arranged in 2 ranks (rows) but maize are in 4 to 10 rows 5.Teosinte has long primary branches that each ends in a male tassel and there are numerous tiny ears along each branch. Maize has short primary branches that end in a single ear – only a few ears per plant; male tassel at apex of plant

6. Hugh Iltis – then and now

8. Apical dominance

11. Teosinte to Maize

12. Feminized Tassels

14. Sweet Corn Traditions

15. Boiling Sweet Corn

16. Traditional Consumption

17. Grilling Sweet Corn

18. Traditional Pop Corn Variety

19. Corn Popping

20. Squanto and Pilgrims

21. North Eastern Native American Groups

22. Three Sisters Mound System

24. Three Sisters Planting Scheme

25. Benefits of Three Sisters Mounds In the Northeast where ground was frequently cold and damp in early spring, mounds allowed the soil to warm up and drain more quickly Mounds allowed an increase in soil organic matter by repeatedly incorporating dead plant material with soil in mounds Decomposition of dead plant material increased soil nutrients; also growing beans which are N-fixers increased soil N for all plants in the mound Mounds minimized soil compaction (people did not walk on mounds, but around them) and reduced soil erosion as fields were not constantly plowed or dug up Mound system allowed easy regulation of plant spacing and plant populations