Maize orIndian corn[1] (calledcorn in some countries) isZea mays, a member of thegrassfamilyPoaceae. It is acerealgrain which was first grown by people in ancientCentral America. Approximately 1 billion tonnes are harvested every year. However, little of this maize is eaten directly by humans. Most is used to make cornethanol, animal feed and other maize products, such ascorn starch andcorn syrup.
Maize is a leafy stalk whose kernels have seeds inside. It is anangiosperm, which means that its seeds are enclosed inside a fruit or shell. It is has long been astaple food by many people inMexico, Central andSouth America and parts ofAfrica. InEurope and the rest ofNorth America, maize is grown mostly for use asanimal feed. InCanada and theUnited States, maize is commonly referred to as "corn".
Centuries ofcross breeding have produced larger plants, and specialized varieties. Corn has become an important ingredient in American foods through the use ofcorn starch. People have long eatensweet corn andpopcorn with littleprocessing, and other kinds after processing intoflour for makingcornbread,tortillas, and other artificial foods.
There are fivespecies and manysubspecies in thegenus. They are all plants similar to the cultivated maize, with less developed cobs. The wild ones are sometimes calledteosintes, and they are all native toMesoamerica.
