Dent corn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dent corn |
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Dent corn is named for its dented kernels.
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| Species | Zea mays |
| Variety | Zea mays var. indentata |
Dent corn, also called grain corn, is a type of field corn. It has a lot of soft starch inside. It gets its name from a small "dent" or dip found on top of each kernel when it's ripe.
A famous type called Reid's Yellow Dent was created by farmer James L. Reid in Illinois. In 1846, James and his father, Robert Reid, moved to Illinois. They brought a red corn called "Johnny Hopkins" with them. They mixed it with flint corn and flour corn varieties. Many of today's hybrid corn types come from this mix. This special corn even won an award at the 1893 World's Fair.
Most corn grown in the United States today is yellow dent corn. Or it is a similar type that came from it. Dent corn is used a lot in making food. It's the main ingredient for cornmeal flour, which is used in cornbread. It also makes corn chips, tortillas, and taco shells. The starch from this corn is also used to make plastics. Plus, it's turned into fructose, a sweetener. This sweetener, called high-fructose corn syrup, is in many processed foods and soft drinks.
The six main types of corn are dent corn, flint corn, pod corn, popcorn, flour corn, and sweet corn.
What is Dent Corn?
Dent corn is a type of Zea mays. It was identified by an American expert named Edward Lewis Sturtevant. It belongs to the plant family called Poaceae, which includes grasses.
How Does Dent Corn Look?
Dent corn (Zea mays var. indentata) grows fast. It is a tall plant that lives for one year. It looks similar to many other types of Zea mays. It usually grows to be about 2–3 meters (6–9 feet) tall.
The plant typically has one main hollow stem. This stem is often called a stalk. It has sections called internodes. The leaves of dent corn are long and sword-shaped. They have veins that run side-by-side. The plant has strong roots that grow close to the ground.
Corn plants have separate male and female flowers. The female flower is the ear of corn. It grows lower down on the stalk. The male flower is called the tassel. It grows at the top of the stalk. The tassel releases pollen, which the wind carries. This pollen helps the corn grow.
An ear of corn has a corncob in the middle. Rows of kernels grow on the cob. These kernels are tightly covered by layers of leaves called husks. What makes dent corn special is the small "dent" on top of each kernel. Other types, like flint corn, have harder, rounder kernels. They might have a small dip, but not a clear dent.
How is Dent Corn Grown?
Dent corn is usually grown in large fields in rows. Farmers grow it to get grain and animal feed. The types of dent corn grown for business are often hybrids. These are special kinds bred for different growing areas or climates.
How is Dent Corn Used?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has two main types of dent corn. These are yellow and white. Yellow dent corn is mostly used for feeding animals. It is also used for industrial things like ethanol and cooking oils.
White dent corn is often used for human food. It is used to make masa, tortilla chips, and grits. It also makes food-grade starch. Some yellow dent corn is also grown for human food. This depends on how much starch it has.
