First 2 pics, field corn from Potters Creek Road, Mason County, West Virginia (08/17/2014). The 3rd pic is of teosinte I borrowed from the internet. Teosinte is native to the central portion of southern Mexico. What does corn and teosinte have in common? Well, if you could trace back the corn in the first 2 pics back 11,000 years, it would be the same plant as the teosinte in the 3rd pic. As North Americas first humans crossed the Bering Strait and traveled south (with the help of the last ice age), they encountered teosinte in southern Mexico. By selecting plants with bigger and more numerous seeds over time, all the varieties of corn we have now, were developed. An interesting fact, the seeds of teosinte will shatter on their own. This means the seeds can disperse, grow new plants, set seed, and start the cycle all over again. Corn is totally dependent on man. The seeds dont shatter; they dry and stay on the cob, unable to disperse. Left to its own devices, the ear will fall to the ground and almost all, if not all, the seeds will rot. Check out fields where farmers are rotating their crops. After growing corn one year, the next year youll find a few stalks of corn in the now, soybean field. If soybeans are anted the third year, most likely no corn will be present. Next time Ill discuss the aurochs. Chances are you probably ate some today.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 23:23:45 +0000
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