Zea

genus of plants

AI overview

Zea is a genus of grasses that includes corn (maize), one of the world's most important food crops. It matters because corn derived from this genus feeds billions of people globally and serves as a major ingredient in countless food products and animal feed.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Species

FamilyPoaceae

Native toCosta Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico Central, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Nicaragua

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Wikidata facts

Image: Field, corn, Liechtenstein, Mountains, Alps, Vaduz, sky, clouds, landscape.jpg

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Commons category: Zea
taxon name: Zea
GRIN URL: npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomygenus.aspx?id=13020
taxon common name: koruza

Sources (2)

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Article

Zea is a genus of flowering plants in the grass family. The best-known species is Z. mays (variously called maize, corn, or Indian corn), one of the most important crops for human societies throughout much of the world. The four wild species are commonly known as teosintes and are native to Mesoamerica.

Etymology