Why does corn have silks

Got that, kids? Good, now eat your ovaries-on-a-cob and let's move on to the chapter titled " What Makes Us Red in the Face. Amanda Fiegl is a former assistant editor at Smithsonian and is now a senior editor at the Nature Conservancy.

Feedloader Clickability Why does corn have silk? I wondered this aloud recently. One thing at a time! These corn silks hanging from an ear of corn are at the early stages of pollination. The number of potential kernels has been determined a few weeks before silking, but fertilization and kernel development is not yet complete. So now you know why corn silk, although it may be a minor nuisance, is absolutely mission critical to having sweet corn on your plate.

Or popcorn. Or any other kind of corn! The Farmer's Life Raising corn, soybeans, wheat, popcorn, two kids, and a dog on an Indiana farm. What is the Purpose of Corn Silk? Secondly, does each kernel of corn have a silk?

Each kernel you see on an ear of corn is the result of a successful fertilization of an ovule by a grain of pollen travelling down one corn silk. These corn silks hanging from an ear of corn are at the early stages of pollination. Look close at the ear and you'll see the kernels of corn have not really formed yet. Corn silk is a common name for the shiny, thread-like, weak fibers that grow as part of ears of corn maize ; the tuft or tassel of silky fibers that protrude from the tip of the ear of corn.

The ear is enclosed in modified leaves called husks. This organic tea is a natural source of antioxidants, fiber, calcium, and potassium. The silks that emerge from the ear shoot are the functional stigmas of the female flowers of a corn plant. Each silk connects to an individual ovule potential kernel. A given silk must be pollinated in order for the ovule to be fertilized and develop into a kernel.

What is corn hair called? The hair is called "silk". It's the stamen of the female corn flower, elongated so that it sticks outside of the husk. That allows the individual flowers to be fertilized even though they are still inside the husk.

Once the silk is brushed with pollen, it carries it to the flower, which ripens into a fruit. What is corn husk good for? Corn husks are most commonly used to encase foods to be steamed or baked, imparting a very light corn flavor. Corn husks can be used in the presentation of a dish, but are not edible and should be discarded after use.