TEOSINTE Nitrogen-Fixing Corn Ancestor (Zea mays ssp. mex./parviglumis) SEEDS

Description: Teosinte, Teosintli, Sacred Corn, Maizillo, Corn of the gods, Ancestral Maize, Wild Maize, Grain of the gods, Father CornSeed packets are available in quantities of either 25+ seeds, 50+ seeds, or 125+ seeds. Use the pull down menu to select size.This seed is USA grown. Teosinte (Zea mays ssp. mexicana/parviglumis) is considered to be the wild ancestor of our modern domesticated corn/maize. Since Teosinte is a direct relative of modern corn, the plant looks very much like a corn plant. It grows tall like corn, except that, unlike corn, it has branches and produces side-shoots (tillers) and becomes bushy. Due to its branching habit, it produces many small single-row ears called spikelets, with each spikelet having 4-12 seeds or kernels. Just like corn/maize, Teosinte was considered sacred by the ancient people of the Americas. In fact the name Teosinte is from the Nahuatl (Aztec) language Teosintli, meaning Sacred Corn. One of the first and main uses of Teosinte by the Pre-Columbian People was that of a source of sugar from the sweet stalks and the tender, immature spikelets. These were cooked and ground into a mash which was then fermented into a type of pulque which was then consumed during religious and ceremonial rituals.Teosinte has a unique feature in that it captures atmospheric nitrogen via aerial roots that it produces along its stalk. This means that it never needs fertilizer and it actually improves the soil fertility where it grows. Its evolutionary cousins, the many varied strains (actually close to 40) of nitrogen-fixing landrace maize, also produce their own fertilizer via a similar system of aerial roots and a symbiotic relationship with certain microbe species. Check out our listing for Giant N-efficiency Nitrogen-Fixing Maize Corn Seed Mix on eBay! In south-central Mexico, where Teosinte is native, indigenous farmers will plant or allow wild Teosinte to grow along with their maize in their corn fields. They believe it will make their corn plants stronger and more productive. The dry seeds are used as a feed for pigs and poultry by the native people of southern Mexico. The stalks are sweet and can be chewed like sweet sorghum or sugarcane stalks. Teosinte is also an excellent food plot for wildlife. Birds love these seeds, especially doves, quail, turkey, and many other species. You can plant a few seeds along your fence line to attract wildlife.We also recommend planting some Marejea-Chipilin along with the Teosinte to increase productivity, growth, and yields.(Please note some of the photos were taken by Verne Lehmberg and used by permission) Complete growing instructions included!! We ship to U.S.A. addresses only. Take a look at our other ebay listings!

Price: 9.99 USD

Location: Laredo, Texas

End Time: 2024-08-17T21:52:48.000Z

Shipping Cost: 4.99 USD