Maize is an annual grass in the family Gramineae, which includes such plants as wheat, rye, barley, rice, sorghum, and sugarcane. There are two major species of the genus Zea (out of six total) Zea mays (maize) and Zea diploperennis, which is a perennial type of teosinte.

Maize is an annual grass in the family Gramineae, which includes such plants as wheat, rye, barley, rice, sorghum, and sugarcane. There are two major species of the genus Zea (out of six total) Zea mays (maize) and Zea diploperennis, which is a perennial type of teosinte.