Zea mays L. Maize, Indian Corn.
Wamnáheza (Dakota); Teton dialect, wagmeza.
Wahába (Omaha-Ponca).
Nikiís (Pawnee).
Maize was cultivated by all the tribes of Nebraska. Native informants say they had all the general types—dent corn, flint corn, flour corn, sweet corn, and pop corn; and that of most of these types they had several varieties. They maintained the purity of these varieties from generation to generation by selecting typical ears for seed and by planting varieties at some distance from each other. They raised considerable quantities, part of which was preserved by drying in the green stage, while the rest was allowed to ripen. The ripe corn was prepared by pounding to a meal, by parching (sometimes by parching and then grinding), by hulling with lye from ashes to make hominy, and in various other ways. Maize comprised a large part of the food supply. Corn was regarded as “mother” among the Nebraska tribes who cultivated it.
[…]
Corn silks were gathered and, after being dried in the sun, were stored away for use as food. To this end the dried corn silks were ground with parched corn, and, it is said, gave sweetness to the compound.
Our European race little appreciates the great number and variety of corn food products made by the American tribes. No attempt is here made even to give a full list of such products.
Four paragraphs omitted at […]: they describe ceremonial practices and beliefs about the corn crop, which the Library does not transcribe.