
A corncob, also called corn cob, cob of corn or corn on the cob, is the central core of an
ear of
corn
Maize ( ; ''Zea mays'' subsp. ''mays'', from es, maíz after tnq, mahiz), also known as corn ( North American and Australian English), is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago. ...
(also known as
maize). It is the part of the ear on which the
kernels grow. The ear is also considered a "cob" or "pole" but it is not fully a "pole" until the ear is shucked, or removed from the plant material around the ear.
Young ears, also called
baby corn, can be consumed raw, but as the plant matures the cob becomes tougher until only the kernels are edible.
When harvesting corn, the corncob may be collected as part of the ear (necessary for
corn on the cob), or instead
may be left as part of the
corn stover
Maize ( ; ''Zea mays'' subsp. ''mays'', from es, maíz after tnq, mahiz), also known as corn (North American and Australian English), is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago. Th ...
in the field.
The innermost part of the cob is white and has a consistency similar to foam plastic.
Uses
Corncobs find use in the following applications:
* Industrial source of the chemical
furfural
* Fiber in
fodder for
ruminant livestock (despite low nutritional value)
Other applications include:
* Bedding for animals – cobs absorb moisture and provide a compliant surface
* Ground up and washed (then re-dried) to make cat litter
* A mild abrasive for cleaning building surfaces, when coarsely ground
*

Raw material for bowls of
corncob pipes
* As a
biofuel
*
Charcoal production
* Environmentally-friendly rodenticide (
powdered corn cob)
* Soil conditioner, water retainer in horticulture
* Absorbent media for safe disposal of liquid and solid effluents
* Diluent/carrier/filler material in animal health products, agro-chemicals, veterinary formulations, vitamin premixes, pharmaceuticals, etc.
* Xylose – a sweetener
*
Anal hygiene
Anal hygiene or anal cleansing refers to hygienic practices that are performed on a person's anus, usually shortly after defecation. Post-defecation cleansing is rarely discussed academically, partly due to the social taboo. The scientific object ...
References
External links
Making charcoal from corncobs
Maize
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