Zea mays L.

• Region

  South America

• Country

  Brazil

• State/Province

  Maranhão

• County/Municipio

  Loreto Mun.

• Locality

  "Ilha de Balsas" region, between the Rios Balsas and Parnaíba. About 40 km south of LORÊTO. Place called "Picada". Riacho da Picada.

• Elevation

  Alt. 250 m. (820 ft.)

• Coordinates

  -7.43, -45.12

• Location Notes

  [South America]

• Distribution

  Map all specimens of this taxon

FLORA OF BRAZIL P*1'*' 1 of 2 P»rta
STATE OF MARANHAO
Zea mays L.
(det, J*B,Swallen, 1964) (det.G.Eiten,1962)
Municipio de Loreto: “Ilha de Balsas” region, between the
Rios Balsas and Parnaiba. About 40 km south of LORETO,
ca. 7° 26 ’S., 45° 7 *W. Place called "Picada".
Alt. ca. 250 m.
Main vegetation types of region: (1) ‘‘chapada", a semi-closed tree woodland (or
“cerrad&o”) on flat tops & steep Sides of plateaus, in iitup hilly limtl, and on
some areas of rolling or flat dry land; (2) “tabuleiro”, a semi-closed woodland,
or “cerrad&o”, of different physiognomy <fc species composition, on tops of billy
or gently rolling land; (3) “mata”, a closed tropical forest of many tree species,
usually with palms, in flat stream valleys and in or alongside of brook ravines ft,
courses; (4) “caatlnga”, a semi-open forest of few forest tree species on low
moist flat land and In narrow valleys between "tabulelro”-covered hills; (5) “var-
j&o”, low moist flat land with scattered forest trees of one or a few species;
(6) “cocal”, thick groves of babacu palm on flat river plain of Bio Parnaiba and
some of its tributary streams./Y&nyvegetatlon types completely deciduous during
dry season. All brooks intermittent. Annual ground fires and cattle grazing In
all areas. Part of “tabuleiro" cut over, forming treeless grassy areas; most
“mata” and much "caatlnga” & "varjao” cultivated or abandoned, forming dense
secondary vegetation of low trees & tall shrubs ("capoelra”); some areas of
"chapada” with dense secondary vegetation ("carrasco”). Upland soils grayish,
tan, or light reddish brown silt or silty clay, very stony on dopes; lowland soils
mostly reddish brown to black silt loam, silty clay loam or clay loam, without
stones. Country rock horizontal light brown sandstone, exposed only on tops
of morros and on cliffs along the Bio Parnaiba.
This habitat: cultivated land on plain of the creek,
nRiacho da Ucada". Vegetation formerly gallery
forest. Soil black, organic clay loam. 24 March 1962
CULTIVATED maize. Plant 1 is 2 l/2 m. tall with half-
Plant 2 is 3 m. tall. In both plants all
grown ears,
parts are green except reddish ends of silk and purplish
outer frnffVfl rtf -rlna aar-g. Plant Visually With 2 earsf
one smaller than other, ftipe ears variable in length,
up to 25 cm. long, 34-4-7 mm. diam., with lo even rows
of kernels. Kernels on an ear mostly white, with some
scattered light yellow & dark yellow;* Planted mixed
with beans & mandioca. (y<jcmg ®*r & mature leaf from
plant lj husks from ripe ear of plant 3)
leg. George Eiten & Liene T. Eiten, no. 3799
Distributed by the Institute de Botanies, S&o Paulo
NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN
02634206