Teosinte

All but the Nicaraguan species of teosinte may grow in or very near corn fields, providing opportunities for introgression between teosinte and maize. First- and later-generation hybrids are often found in the fields, but the rate of gene exchange is quite low. Some populations of Zea mays mexicana display Vavilovian mimicry within cultivated maize fields,  evolving a maize-like form as a result of the farmers' selective weeding pressure. In some areas of Mexico, teosintes are regarded by maize farmers as a noxious weed, while in a few areas farmers regard it as a beneficial companion plant, and encourage its introgression into their maize.

Excellent feed for Dove, Turkey and Quail. Teosinte provides cover and feed that birds love. The plant looks and is very similar to corn. Instead of a single stalk producing several ears with a cob and kernels, Teosinte makes a tall stalk with many branches and will produce a cloister of seed on each leaf node. Teosinte kernels look similar to small pebbles which shatter out slowly over a long period of time providing an average of 800 lbs. of seed per acre.

Zea mays is divided into four subspecies: huehuetenangensis, mexicana, parviglumis, and mays. The first three subspecies are teosintes; the last is maize, or corn, the only domesticated taxon in the genus Zea. The name teosinte comes from Náhuatl language of Mexico and it has been suggested that its meaning is maize (centli) of the gods (teo). Teosinte is the common name that applies to four botanical species: huehuetenangensis, mexicana, parviglumis.

Zea mays L. ssp. parviglumis is found at elevations between about 1,300–5,900’ (400–1800 m) above sea level in the valleys along the western escarpment of Mexico from Nayarit to Oaxaca. At lower, warmer elevations than ssp. mexicana, it takes about 6-7 months to mature its seed. Plant height ranges from 2–5 m. The plants typically have green to weak red, glabrous leaf sheaths. The name "parviglumis" means small glume, referring to the small (5-8 mm) tassel spikelets. It has similarly small fruitcases (~30-80 mg). This subspecies is also typified by a large number of tassel branches, usually more than 20 and exceeding 100 in the most robust plants. The fruitcases are ± triangular in outline. Populations are distributed along and east-west axis from Oaxaca to Jalisco. Populations in the center of this range in the Balsas river drainage are known as Race Balsas or Balsas teosinte. English common name: Mexican annual teosinte.