The origin of 'corn' in the U.S.

In most countries of the world the word "corn" refers to any plant that produces grain, and corn is called "maize." It seems the words "grain" and "corn" are tangled, but this is America and corn is corn.

Corn was domesticated in North America. Archeological digs have shown that a primitive kind of corn was grown in South-central Mexico at least 8,000 years ago. Today corn is the most widely grown grain crop in the United States. So many different kinds of animals eat corn that it would take a very long list to name them all.

This photo shows a corn stalk that has survived the long winter and remains standing well into the month of March. Most likely a whitetail deer, possibly aided by a blue jay, cardinal, squirrel or mouse has stripped the ear of all its kernels. I found this stalk with its bare ear in a "food plot" on a local wildlife conservation area.

Through the Woods is a weekly nature photo column by Aaron Horrell. Find this column at semissourian.com to order a reprint of the photo. Find more work by Aaron at the Painted Wren Gallery.