1. Anatomy of Zea mays
Devin Nichols
IB 423
5/1/06

2. General Information About Zea mays
Angiosperm
Monocot
Poaceae (Grass) Family
Monoecious
Most widely planted crop in U.S.
Most economically valuable crop in U.S.

3. Zea mays General Structure
Tassel
Ear
Adventious Roots

4. Zea mays Inflorescences
Male Inflorescence (Tassel)
Female Inflorescence (Ear)
Style (Silk)
Caryopsis
(Kernel)

5. Zea mays Leaf XS Adaxial Epidermis Vascular Bundle Bundle Sheath Cell
Abaxial Epidermis
600X

6. Zea mays Leaf Adaxial Epidermal Replica
Vein
Stomates
200X

7. Zea mays Leaf Adaxial Epidermal Replica
Vein
Trichomes
Stomate
100X

8. Zea mays Leaf XS Major Vein Minor Vein Trichome Bulliform Cell
Xylem Vessels
Sclerenchyma Fibers
200X

9. Zea mays Trichomes Leaf Whole Mount Leaf XS Trichome Basal Cells 100X

10. Zea mays Glandular Trichome
Capitate Trichome
100X

11. Zea mays Stem Internode XS
Vascular Bundles
100X Toluidine Blue-O

12. Zea mays Stem Node XS Vascular Tissue Interconnecting Bundles Vascular
200X Toluidine Blue-O

13. Zea mays Stem XS Vascular Bundle
Metaxylem
Protoxylem lacunae
Phloem
Sclerenchyma Fibers
200X Toluidine Blue-O

14. Zea mays Shoot Apical Meristem
Tassel Primordium
Leaf Primordia
Ear Shoot
20X

15. Zea mays Root Whole Mount
Root Cap
Zone of Elongation
Root Hair Zone
40X Toluidine Blue-O

16. Zea mays Root Apical Meristem
Procambium
Root Cap
200X Toluidine Blue-O

17. Zea mays Root XS Young Root Mature Root 40X Aniline Blue
200X Toluidine Blue-O

18. Zea mays Root XS Pericycle Phloem Endodermis Metaxylem Cortex
Protoxylem
Pith
200X Aniline Blue

19. Zea mays Root XS at Branch Root
100X Toluidine Blue-O

20. Zea mays Root LS
Pith
Phloem
Sieve
Plate
Cortex
200X Aniline Blue

21. Zea mays Germinating Pollen Grain
Callose Plug
Pollen Tube
Pollen Grain
400X

22. Zea mays Style XS
Vascular Bundles
200X Toluidine Blue-O

23. References
Esau, Katherine Anatomy of Seed Plants Second Edition. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. New York.
Freeling, M. and V. Walbot, Editors The Maize Handbook. Springer-Verlag. New York.
Kiesselbach, T.A The Structure and Reproduction of Corn. University of Nebraska Press. Lincoln.