Independent botanical knowledge atlas Taxonomy indexed. Evidence labelled. Safety kept visible. Explore the medicinal index ↗
HolisticHealing TipsBotanical knowledge atlas
Home/Global useful plant index
Enriched botanical record

Corn silk

Zea mays L.

Also indexed ascorn plantmaize plantcornZea mays'icúAburooAgbadoAnyuɔl
FamilyPoaceae
GenusZea
Use categories11
Linked notes0
Poison use is recorded for this taxon.This is a classification flag, not a dosage guide. Do not infer safe use from any documented-use label.

Botanical identity

The silky threads of maize used in traditional water-based preparations.

KingdomPlantae
Phylum / divisionTracheophyta
ClassLiliopsida
OrderPoales
FamilyPoaceae
GenusZea
Scientific name with authorshipZea mays L.
Curated parts indexedStyles and stigmas

Indexed scientific synonyms

Mays americana Baumg.Mays zea Gaertn.Mayzea cerealis Raf.Mayzea cerealis subsp. gigantea Raf.Thalysia mays (L.) KuntzeZea amylesaccharata Sturtev., 1885Zea gigantea VossZea japonica VanHoutteZea maiz Vell.Zea mays subsp. gracillima Körn.Zea mays subsp. hanakibi MakinoZea mays subsp. multicoloramylacea YarchukZea mays subsp. pensylvanica Bonaf.Zea mays subsp. praecox Torr.Zea mays subsp. semidentata KuleshovZea mays subsp. striatiamylacea LeizersonZea mays subsp. subnigroviolacea T.A.YarchukZea mays subsp. tunicata Sturtev.Zea mays subsp. virginica Bonaf.Zea mays var. gracillima Körn. ex Hitchc.Zea mays var. maysZea mays var. parviglumis H.H.Iltis & DoebleyZea segetalis Salisb.

Documented use categories

Medicine
Human food
Animal food
Environmental use
Fuel
Gene source
Invertebrate food
Material
Poison reported
Social use
Crop wild relative

These categories describe the kinds of human-use reports attached to the taxon in the source checklist. Multiple categories can coexist; a plant may be recorded as both food and poison, depending on part, preparation and context.

How to interpret this record

Traditional and practical context

Traditional and practical context is preparation-specific. A documented use category is not proof of clinical effectiveness.

Evidence boundary

Evidence must be assessed by exact species, plant part, preparation, route, dose and health question.

Safety boundary

Confirm botanical identity, plant part, route, dose, medicines, allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding and age before use.

Dataset record and provenance

DatasetWCUPS 2020
LicenceCC BY 4.0
Name sourceIPNI
IPNI / external identifier426810-1
Use codesAF EU FU GS HF IF MA ME PO SU
Crop wild relativeYes

Read the full dataset citation, licence and import methodology →

!

Educational index, not a treatment recommendation

The presence of a taxon in this database does not provide a diagnosis, dose, formulation or assurance of safety. Some indexed plants are toxic, regulated, endangered or unsafe in specific life stages.