corn

Corn, also known as maize, is a cereal grain with the scientific name Zea mays. It is a member of the grass family (Poaceae) and is one of the most widely cultivated crops in the world, grown for food, feed, and industrial uses.

The plant is an annual grass that typically reaches 2 to 3 meters in height. Ears, each bearing rows of kernels, develop after pollination. The tassel produces pollen at the top of the plant, while the ears emerge from the leaf axils.

Corn was domesticated about 9,000 years ago in present-day Mexico and Central America. From there it spread across the Americas and, after European contact, to other continents. Today it is among the most important staple crops worldwide.

Uses vary by type. Sweet corn is consumed as a fresh or processed vegetable, while dent or field corn is primarily grown for animal feed, tortillas and other foods, starch, or ethanol. Popcorn is a distinct variety that bursts when heated.

Nutritionally, corn provides energy mainly as carbohydrates and supplies modest amounts of protein, fiber, and vitamins, notably B vitamins and vitamin C, with minerals such as magnesium. It is gluten-free unless contaminated by processing with gluten-containing grains. Global production is led by the United States, China, Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico.