"John Vanini" wrote in message
...
I've noticed that on my sweetcorn one of the top fluffy bits (sorry about
the technical language!) has developed into, what looks like, an ear of
corn but is much smaller, a bit sad looking, with kernals missing and
mis-shapen, and some dark in colour. It, obviously, has no sheath of
leaves and looks most strange..



I've never seen this happen before and, out of interest, wondered if
anyone can tell me more about this peculiar ear. I believe the fluffy bits
are, generally, known as 'tassels', by the way, but this, to me, is no
more technical than fluffy bits!

I suggest it's uneven pollination. Sweetcorn is wind pollinated, it was
probably wet at the time pollination had to take place which would stop the
pollen blowing from the tassels onto the immature seed.

Mary