Funny Nature & Travel Art & Stage Going Viral Science Greetings Inspirational

Edit Profile Recently Viewed Favorites

Main > Nature & Travel > Nature

The Glass Gem Corn: A Rediscovered Species?

Edited By: Shai K.

Add to Favorites In Favorites

Español

Font Size:

A+ A-

These photos of the glass gem corn have been making a lot of noise lately, and I really wanted to share this amazing plant with you. Just to let you know off the bat - this is real, not a hoax, not photoshopped. This is a type of corn called the glass gem corn.

The story of this fascinating species of corn starts with a man called Carl Barnes.

Carl is a half-Cherokee, half Scottish-Irish farmer who lives in Oklahoma. Carl had an amazing sense for making bread out of corn, and excelled in selecting and saving seeds from cobs that displayed interesting colors.

Late in life, in his 80s, Carl met another plant enthusiast named Greg Schoen. The two shared a deep love for corn and Carl entrusted Schoen with his priceless seed collection, giving him not only this treasure but also the responsibility that comes with it - to continue his work.

In 2005, he partnered with another man and together they grew what is now known as the Glass Gem Corn, which comes in a myriad of lovely colors.

The corn produces a variety of jewel-like ears, each one with unique patterns of colors. This is a type of flint corn, so that the kernels can be ground and made into cornmeal or it can be popped and be made into popcorn (the popcorn itself, unfortunately, is plain white), but it cannot be eaten straight off the cob.

Schoen has been giving seeds away to anyone who is interested in growing the unique corn, and many have taken him up on it, so I'm pretty sure that you might be able to get your own glass gem corn some day soon!

Submitted by user: Margaret O.

Like Next Post Send Share WhatsApp

Copy Link

Did you mean:

Continue With: Facebook Google

By continuing, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy

Report copyright infringement

Print this content

You may also like:

Science and Technology

Turns Out Catnip is an Insect Repellent For Cats Too

3:53

Why Do Cats Like Catnip?

Are they really getting "high," or is there scientific logic behind cats' love of catnip?

Nature

Enjoy Gorgeous Flowers Accompanied By Inspiring Quotes

These flowers are truly stunning, and when they're juxtaposed with some amazing quotes, their beauty is even more apparent. Enjoy this beautiful post.

Nature

15:39

9 Myths About Mushrooms BUSTED For Good

Can we eat mushrooms raw or must we cook them first? Do they all have medicinal properties? And how can they help with cancer?

Nature

15 Beautiful Fruit Tree Flowers and Blossoms

The Flowers & Blossoms of Fruit Trees Are Achingly Pretty

There are few things in this world that are quite as magical as a flowering or blossoming fruit tree. Take a look at 15 stunning images of fruit tree flowers.

Nature

This Botanical Garden in Pennsylvania is Out of This World

Take a look at these terrific photos of stunning Botanical garden, Longwood Gardens.

Nature

7:45

Welcome to the Seed Bank in Kew Gardens, London

Welcome to the bank in Kew Gardens. It won't ever hold money, but it is bomb-proof. What is guarded there?

Health

Why Spring Allergies Are Getting Worse Every Year

If your eyes have been itchier, your nose stuffier, and your sneezing more relentless than usual - you're not imagining it. Spring allergies are genuinely getting worse. Let's discuss why that is.

Computers & Internet

5:15

How to Find Out if Your Computer Has a Virus

In this video, I'll show you the most telling signs that your machine may be infected, walk you through how to remove threats effectively, and share the best antivirus solutions to keep you protected for good.

Send Comment

Related Topics: nature, photos, plants, science, food, corn, breeding, glass gem corn

Quizzes

Are You Smart Enough for These Trivia Questions?

Let's check your ability to think and remember in a multitude of fields. You'll need a very well-rounded knowledge to answer all of these correctly!

This Color Test Will Tell You What Makes You Happy

In the next test we will ask you to choose the color that attracts you and "speaks" to your soul without thinking too much. From these intuitive choices will be revealed the answer to what your soul needs now to feel better and improve the mood.

Do They Have This Feature?

In each question, you’ll see four features - but only one is false… or only one is real. Read carefully. These aren’t trick questions - but they are precision questions.