In corn, flowering is identified by the development of tassel (male) and ear (female). Unlike most other field crops, corn is monoecious plant, i.e. two separate flower parts on the same plant. The role of tassel is to produce enough pollen to fertilize ovules in the female flower or ear.
Does corn make a flower?
Corn plants produce individual male and female flowers, both of which start out as bisexual. During the flower's development, the female traits (gynoecia) of the male flowers and male features (stamens) of the developing female flower terminate. The end result is a tassel, which is male, and an ear, which is female.
What stage does corn flower?
In week nine after emergence, the typical corn plant sprouts its tassel, the male flower that pollinates the ears. This stage in the corn growth stages is known as VT. At around the same time, the ears produce sticky corn silk, which is the female flower that the pollen will fertilize.