Name the part of the flower which the tassels of the corn-cob represent.

Hint: Corn is a monoecious plant, meaning it bears both male and female flowers as separate structures on the same plant. The word “mono” means “one.” Corn cobs have long tassels that assist in dispersing pollen through the wind, which helps ensure a broader spread of pollen for future generations.

Complete answer:

Typically, flowers have two primary components: the stamen (in male flowers) and the pistil (in female flowers). Corn is a pistillate flower, meaning it lacks stamens, the male reproductive part.

The tassels on a corn cob represent the female components of the flower—specifically, the style and stigma. Corn plants produce clusters of female flowers along the stem, which means only female flowers bloom on each cob.

These flower clusters are enclosed by a spathe. The styles of these flowers are lengthy, hanging out from the flowers in bunches called tassels.

Tassel colors may vary, appearing green, purple, or yellow. The tassels are located at the top (apex) of the corn stalk and have stigmas at their tips.

These long tassels produce a significant amount of pollen and help capture pollen from the wind, promoting extensive distribution and enabling future offspring.

Note: The corn flower is a monoecious plant, derived from “monos” meaning ‘single’ and “oikos” meaning ‘house,’ signifying that both male and female reproductive organs are found on the same plant. The corn cob bears only female flowers, which fulfill both male and female roles in reproduction. These cobs have lengthy tassels that facilitate the distribution of pollen by catching the wind.