The Sex Life of Corn

Since Jim and I are new farmers with little to no background in farming, we are constantly learning new things about everything from irrigation, to how to cook turnips, to when to plant seeds.  We are calling this first year our experimentation year, but we think every year will be a year of learning. 

One thing I learned today was just how corn gets pollinated.  I felt the need to learn this because our corn has recently developed sex organs.  Now, I've heard of male and female flowers on squash plants and this is the first year that I could tell the difference between the two.  But I never really new how sexual corn plants can be.  So, if you're ready for Corn Sex Ed 101, here goes.

This is the male flower of a corn plant, also called a tassel.  It's pretty obvious why this is the male part, isn't it?  Pollen is dispersed through holes in the tips of what is called the anther, which, according to Biology Online, is the "pollen-bearing structure in the stamen (male organ) of the flower, usually located on top of the filament of the stamen."  All the pollen from a single anther can be dispersed in as little as three minutes.  I'm not going to comment on that.    

This is the female flower of the corn plant, called the ear.  The female flower consists of two parts:  the ovule (kernel) and the stigma (silk).  Every potential kernel develops its own silk that must be pollinated in order for that ovary to be fertilized and develop into a kernel.  So what we are eating when we eat corn are the fertilized ovules.  Pretty amazing, huh?

When all is right with the world, a pollen grain lands on a receptive silk, develops a pollen tube containing the male genetic material, and fertilizes the female ovary within 24 hours.  To add in this process, silks are covered with fine, sticky hairs that help catch and anchor pollen grains.  

We're hoping that our corn hasn't learned any birth control methods lately and that they are very productive this year.  Go forth, corn, be fruitful and multiply.  

I dare you to eat another ear of corn without thinking of this!