Discover corn as a plant in its own right

Also known as corn, maize is a tropical herbaceous plant belonging to the Poaceae family. This hardy, monoecious plant is native to Central America. It has a single large stalk, up to 3.5 m long. Stem diameter can easily reach 6 cm. Lignified, the stem is made up of several internodes separated by nodes. Each node houses a large leaf. About 1 m long and 10 cm wide, corn leaves are ribboned and alternate. The plant’s fruits are kidney-shaped caryopses. Glued together, the seeds are yellow or purplish in color. Corn’s root system includes a large number of adventitious roots. These arise from the nodes at the base of the stalk. These roots form a complex fasciculated system, growing up to 1 m deep. Today, corn has become a common plant. It is grown worldwide as a cereal in both warm and temperate climates. This type of cereal is rich in starch. Corn is also very popular as a fern plant. Seeds are generally sown in spring, and flowering begins in July and August. Harvesting generally waits until early autumn. Corn is an undemanding plant. It can grow on all types of soil, including clay. A good supply of water and nutrients is of course essential. For a vigorous plant, rich, deep soils should be preferred wherever possible.

But what part of the corn is the stigma?

Corn bears several flowers of different sexes on a single plant. Male flowers, or panicles, are found at the very top of the corn stalk. Female flowers, on the other hand, are found in the axils of the plant’s leaves. These flowers take the form of large, elongated spikes with long filaments. Between 15 and 20 cm long, these filaments form the flower stigmas. They are called stigmas, beards or corn hairs. Extremely rich in active compounds, stigma corn contains mucilage and mineral salts, including potassium. This part of the plant also contains alkaloids, flavonoids, saponosides and an aromatic essence. These active ingredients act synergistically to promote the body’s well-being.

How to use corn stover to enjoy its benefits?

Corn stigma is now available in a wide variety of formats. It can be taken in capsule or tablet form. Corn stigma is also available in the form of infusions and decoctions. It is advisable to scrupulously respect the product’s consumption dosage. We invite you to take the time to read the online leaflets and the consumption instructions on the packaging. We also encourage you to respect the recommended duration of the cure. Depending on the case, it can range from just a few weeks to several months. While the corn stigma is favored in phytotherapy, the cereal has long found its place in cooking. In fact, it can be used in many forms. Soufflé, grain, flour or syrup: the choice is endless. Depending on your tastes, you can eat it straight off the cob or with a little olive oil in a salad. You can also roast it on the barbecue or eat it in the form of tortillas or polenta. Corn is also used in many sweet and savoury recipes. The possibilities are endless. It’s all a question of taste and creativity.