kukorrica

Kukorrica is a genus of flowering plants in the grass family Poaceae. It is native to the Americas, with species found from the United States south to Argentina. The most well-known species is Zea mays, commonly known as corn or maize, which is one of the most important staple crops in the world.

Plants in the genus Kukorrica are typically annual grasses with tall, erect stems. They have large, broad leaves and produce separate male and female flowers on the same plant. The male flowers are borne in a terminal panicle, while the female flowers are arranged in dense spikes enclosed in husks. The fruit is a caryopsis, commonly called a grain.

Kukorrica species have a long history of cultivation. Zea mays was domesticated in Mesoamerica thousands of years ago and has since spread globally. It is a significant source of food for humans and livestock, as well as a key ingredient in various industrial products, including biofuels and plastics. Other species within the genus may have local uses but are not as widely cultivated as Zea mays. The genus is of considerable scientific interest due to its agricultural importance and its role in human history.