Mais - what kind of culture is this? Maize: description, composition, useful properties

In Spain it is called cucurucho, in Russia it is known as corn, and in Mexico - as maize. This plant is familiar and loved by many peoples of our planet.

Going to all

But how could it be otherwise? Mais is a plant that has a lot of useful properties. In addition, that it is tasty and it is eaten with pleasure by people and animals, it produces a variety of products and even extracts chemicals. Corn is processed to obtain molasses, glucose, syrup, dextrin, starch, alcohol. Also from maize flour prepare all kinds of pastries, corn flakes, many are used to seeing on their table as a useful and nutritious breakfast. Corn oil is very healthy. Contained there phosphatides, saturated fatty acids reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, reduce the amount of cholesterol in the body, help the brain to function normally. But this does not limit the useful properties of maize. To them he owes his composition. It includes vitamins B, A, H, trace elements, including magnesium, iron, calcium, copper, nickel. Also rich in corn acids, which help to cleanse the body of toxins, normalize the level of cholesterol.

It's time to heal

It must be said that in medicine all parts of this plant are used, not just grains, as one might think. Even the waste left after it is used. Glutamic acid is extracted from them. But this is one of the main components of folic acid. Glutamic acid plays an important role in the treatment of nervous and mental diseases, poliomyelitis, muscular dystrophy, and Down's disease. Medicines based on corn stigmas are also used to treat various diseases. From them prepare extracts, broths, infusions. They treat with their help diseases of the nervous, digestive, cardiovascular and other body systems.

Not only food

Mais is a plant that is eaten in different countries. Cook from it porridge, bread, cereal. Eat fresh and canned. In China, the pollen of this plant is used to make a special food product. Corn can be eaten without fear. After all, its grains are not able to accumulate nitrates. This plant is absolutely harmless to the human body. Therefore, it is recommended for baby food. The only contraindication is individual intolerance.

In addition, maize is also a food for animals and birds. And for these purposes, about 60% of the total corn crop is harvested. The stems, cobs and leaves of maize go into processing, after which raw materials are formed, which goes to the production of linoleum, plastic, activated carbon, paper and other useful products for the farm. The production of ethanol is especially interesting at present.

Just raise

Corn is a plant that is thermophilic. Therefore, the most delicious varieties grow in the southern regions. In the northern regions fodder corn is grown. Frosts are fatal to adult plants, but young shoots are quite capable of withstanding temperatures of -3 degrees. Maize seeds germinate at +10 degrees. Breeders are engaged in breeding new varieties that are resistant to environmental influences and have increased yields. Most of all corn is grown in China and the United States.

Contact a specialist

What is necessary in order to grow maize? Seed products of high quality, suitable growing conditions, proper care. Farmers independently choose firms that can be trusted. One of such organizations is "Maize". Employees of this firm are engaged in scientific work on breeding hybrids of corn. The products that are produced here meet international standards, have a trademark and a patent. Maize seeds of maize are suitable for cultivation in all soil and climatic zones. The work on breeding is conducted with the aim of improving the properties of the plant. Thanks to this, hybrids with increased yields were managed, while at the same time reducing the cost of seeds. By purchasing quality seeds, you can start growing them.

Looks like

Mais is a plant belonging to the family of cereals. In the fields you can see corn stalks, reaching a height of 3-5 meters. The trunk of maize is hard, dense, reaching in diameter 7 centimeters. The leaves can be up to 1 meter long and 10 centimeters wide. To hold the trunk vertically, the herbaceous plant releases air supporting roots. Corns grow on corn, which after pollination are formed into fruits, called grains. The grains in these fruits are square and arranged on the head with long vertical rows, in which each grain is tightly pressed together. Corn is of different varieties. On this depends the size of the cob and the color of its grain. The most popular is corn with yellow grains.

There she is loved

Very popular maize in Mexico. And this is not surprising. It is believed that it was there that this plant was cultivated about 7000 years ago. This was proved during archaeological excavations, during which an "ancestor" of maize was found. It is interesting that in those distant times the corn cob was not completely covered with green leaves. Similar traces of ancient corn were discovered during excavations in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador. Before Columbus discovered America, the Indians were already actively engaged in the cultivation of corn. They deified her and portrayed the god of fertility of Tlaloc as a young man with a head in the form of a corn cob with leaves. Corn was planted in holes at a distance of 90 centimeters from each other. Gradually, all large areas of the earth were liberated for planting. In order for corn to grow well, it should be well fertilized. So thought and the Indians, who used as a fertilizer raw fish, which is completely buried in the hole. Corn brought to Europe by Columbus. From Spain it spread all over the world. In our country it began to grow since the 17th century. Soon it has become an exclusively cultural plant, not found in nature, and grown only by man.

Or maybe a miracle?

Interestingly, corn can not grow on its own. It has long been noted that in order for it to grow, it is necessary to remove the green leaves from the cob, thus freeing the grains. And who can do this, if not a man? If the harvest of corn for some reason is not collected, then it just rot, not giving offspring. This amazing property is very interested in lovers of the whole paranormal. According to their logic, maize could not independently multiply on the ground. Someone had to bring it as a gift to people and teach how to grow it. Astrologers have suggested that aliens did this. But the Aztecs were of the opinion that the god Kukulkan presented them with corn.

However, scientists refute this view. In their opinion, before corn looked a little different. It had a structure that did not prevent it from reproducing itself. In ancient times, it was not such a tall plant. On the low stalk there was an ear, which was covered with a panicle only from above. There were no hard green leaves covering it completely. Therefore, the grains freely fell to the ground and sprouted. But over time, some plants with closed cobs appeared, and something forced people to grow this species. Perhaps, because his cobs were larger, and the grains are tastier. But this does not explain what happened to her wild ancestors.

Whatever it was, this nutritious, tasty and useful cereal is one of the most remarkable gifts of nature, which more than once rescued mankind during the famine times. Growing maize is easy. Try to do it in your summer residence. He will certainly please you with a harvest. And until that time, looking at a beautiful plant, you can think about the mystery of its origin.