Zea — 2 species
Botanical species in the genus Zea recorded in the PlantPeers database.
Edible
Zea diploperennis
Zea diploperennis
Family: Poaceae
Cultivation
The plant has resistance to various viruses that afflict cultivated maize (Zea mays). It has the same number of chromosomes as maize (20), and so can be used in breeding programmes to pass that resistance on to maize and also, perhaps, to develop a perennial form of maize.
Full cultivation guide →PerennialView Details
EdibleMedicinal
Zea mays
Zea mays
Family: Poaceae
Cultivation
Zea mays requires a warm to hot growing season in order to produce a good crop. Different varieties have differing requirements as to how long that season is. Sweetcorn, for example, is harvested when the cobs when the seeds are still maturing and so needs a shorter growing season than a variety grown for its mature, dried seed.
Full cultivation guide →AnnualView Details