teosintes are species of Graminaceous S pertaining to kind Zea (kind which includes/understands only corn and the teosintes), originating in the Mexico and considered by certain scientists as the ancestors of the cultivated Maïs.

Species and subspecies

• the section Zea which includes/understands only one species: Zea mays , itself subdivided in four subspecies, the corn and three teosintes annual:

• ''Zea mays'' subsp. '' mays '' (L.) Iltis, the corn itself,
• '' Zea mays '' subsp. '' mexicana '' (Schrader) Iltis,
• '' Zea mays '' subsp. '' parviglumis '' Iltis & Doebley,
• '' Zea mays '' subsp. '' huehuetenangensis '' (Iltis & Doebley) Doebley, sometimes regarded as a variety of the preceding one.
• the section luxuriant which includes/understands four long-lived species of Téosinte S:
• Zea diploperennis Iltis, Doebley & R.Guzman, which hybrid easily with corn,
• Zea luxurians (Durieu) R.M.Bird,
• Zea nicaraguensis Iltis & B.F.Benz,
• Zea perennis (Hitchc.) Reeves & Mangelsdorf.

The subdivision of the species Zea mays in subspecies is prone to debate, certain authors classifying the teosintes annual in six races: Nobogame, central Plate, Durango, Chalco, Balsas and Huehuetenango, instead of three subspecies.

All the species and subspecies of the kind Zea have the same number of Chromosome S (2n=20) except Zea perennis which is Diploïde (2n=40).

External bonds

• Of the teosinte to corn transgenic
• the corn wild and cultivated in Mexico