Zea mays subsp. mexicana

(Schrad.) H.H. Iltis
Common names: Chalco teosinte Central-plateau teosinte Nobogame teosinte
Synonyms: Zea mexicana
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 25. Treatment on page 703.

Culms (0.5)1-3 m tall, (0.5)1-2(3) cm thick, unbranched when growing in corn fields to branched and with staminate inflorescences terminating the many branches when growing in the open. Blades 30-85 cm long, 3-8 cm wide. Pistillate inflorescences 5-8(10) cm long, 0.6-0.8 cm thick, distichous, with 2 rows of spikelets embedded in the rachis; rachises disarticulating at maturity; fruitcases (6)9-12(15), 6-10 mm long, 4-6 mm wide, triangular in side view, with pointed apices. Caryopses concealed in the fruitcases. Staminate panicles with 1-35+ ascending to divergent, somewhat stiff, disarticulating branches; central axes of staminate panicles as slender as the lateral branches. Staminate spikelets (6.6)7.5-10.5 mm. 2n = 20.

Discussion

Zea mays subsp. mexicana is a weedy taxon, native to upland Mexico. It is most abundant in the Meseta Central of the Mexican neo-volcanic plateau, at elevations of 1700-2500 m. It grows almost entirely in and around cornfields, and readily hybridizes with subsp. mays. The long-day tolerant 'Northern Teosinte' is the result of a series of backcrosses between such hybrids and the northernmost population of subsp. mexicana, 'Nobogame Teosinte'.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Zea mays subsp. mexicana"
Hugh H. Iltis +
(Schrad.) H.H. Iltis +
Chalco teosinte +, Central-plateau teosinte +  and Nobogame teosinte +
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Zea mexicana +
Zea mays subsp. mexicana +
Zea mays +
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