Corn is a generic term to describe the
fruit (grain) of cereal plants in particular. In Britain corn
generally refers to wheat. However, in the US, the word corn
refers to maize. Popping corn is just one of the many
varieties of maize grown commercially.
The bulk of tissue within a grain of corn is called the
endosperm. Endosperm is specialized storage tissue
providing nutrients for the embryo when the seed
germinates. It is also a source of carbohydrates for
humans. In popcorn, the outer part of the endosperm
is hard but the center is soft. When the corn is heated, the
water in the central part turns to steam causing the seed to
burst (the pop that you hear) and turn inside out. |
endosperm:
胚乳
embryo: 胚芽 carbohydrates:
碳水化合物
|