Zea mays is the botanical name for corn. Zea comes from Greek, meaning "to live." Mays comes from Spanish maz, or maize, the same word as a term in a native Mexican language meaning "mother," or "mother of life." Corn silks are the silky tassels running the length of an ear of corn. They serve as styles or tubes for collecting the pollen that fertilizes each seed. Corn silk is not considered a food, but it has a long history in traditional cultures.