3. Nature of the Maize Ear. The hybrids of pod corn and Guarany maize, previously reported, which have been useful in demonstrating the nature of the ear of maize, have produced an additional useful abnormality. In 1945 several plants were found in which one or more ears were normal while other ears on the same stalks produced greatly elongated shanks. When this occurs the ear is more or less naked and the shucks which usually surround the ear become normal leaves spaced at intervals on an elongated lateral stem. There is no doubt that the ear was originally the terminal inflorescence of a lateral branch.