Zea (plant)

"Teosinte" redirects here. For other uses, see Teosinte (disambiguation).

Zea
Zea mays
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Panicoideae
Supertribe: Andropogonodae
Tribe: Andropogoneae
Subtribe: Tripsacinae
Genus: Zea
L.
Type species
Zea mays
Synonyms[1]
  • Euchlaena Schrad.
  • Mays Mill.
  • Mayzea Raf.
  • Reana Brign.
  • Thalysia Kuntze
  • × Euchlaezea Jan.Ammal ex Bor
  • Mais Adans.

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.

  1. ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families