Maize

Also known as Corn, Indian Corn, Sweet Corn, Field Corn

Maize is a powerhouse annual grass whose upright, bamboo-like stalks capture vast amounts of solar energy via efficient C4 photosynthesis. Wind disperses abundant pollen from top tassels onto receptive silks hanging from developing ears, where individual fertilized strands become grain kernels wrapped tightly in protective husks. Completely reliant on humans for propagation, this ancient Mesoamerican staple produces seeds so firmly attached to the cob that it cannot disperse into the wild on its own.