Botanical name : Zea mays Linn.
Family : Poaceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Makkaya, Mahakaya
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa    : Kashaya, Madhura
Guna   : Guru, Snigdha
Virya   : Seeta
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English  : Indian maize, Maize, Corn
Hindi  : Makka, Barajovar
Malayalam : Cholam, Makkacholam
Distribution – Throughout India, cultivated.
PLANT DESCRIPTION
An erect annual herb grows up to 5 meters in height. Leaves simple, linear lanceolate, with sheathing base, acuminate, and scrubby. Male spikelets are terminal racemes, female inflorescence axillary, with spikelets arranged around the woody axis, styles long and silky, protruding outside as a mass of threads. Grains are flattened, yellowish, and become stony hard when dried.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated kapha, pitta, general debility, anorexia, hemorrhoids, emaciation and is a staple food for some parts of India.
Useful part : Grains.