一般玉米已經不稀奇了，拿出「寶石玉米」出來啃才夠厲害！

2012年時，第一張彩色玉米照在臉書上出現時，掀起一陣購買「寶石玉米」(Glass Gen Corn) 的旋風。但看過吃過甚至種過這些玉米之外，你知道寶石玉米背後的故事嗎？ Greg Schoen 剛開始，一名奧克拉荷馬州農夫Carl Barnes，身為半個查拉幾族土人，因為想要拉近自己與原

May 17, 2015

編輯：Anne

藝術, 美食, 世界

2012年時，第一張彩色玉米照在臉書上出現時，掀起一陣購買「寶石玉米」(Glass Gen Corn) 的旋風。但看過吃過甚至種過這些玉米之外，你知道寶石玉米背後的故事嗎？

The story of Glass Gem corn begins with an Oklahoma farmer named Carl Barnes. Barnes, now in his 80s, is half-Cherokee. He began growing older corn varieties in his adult years (no one is exactly sure when this began) as a way to reconnect with his heritage.

Greg Schoen

剛開始，一名奧克拉荷馬州農夫Carl Barnes，身為半個查拉幾族土人，因為想要拉近自己與原住民血統的歸屬感就開始種植古老的玉米種子，各式各樣的都種呢！

藉由種植多種類古老玉米，Carl竟找到了1800年代美國原住民部落遷移到現在的奧克拉荷馬州過程中遺失的遠祖玉米種類。這也開啟了他與全國各地的人交換古老種子的歷程，途中遇到的也全都變成了他的朋友呢！

Greg Schoen

廣告1

同時，Carl自己也開始蒐集、儲藏與重新栽種那些顏色比較特別的玉米。

At the same time, Barnes began selecting, saving, and replanting seeds from particularly colorful cobs.

Greg Schoen

過了一段時間，這種迷幻的彩虹玉米就此被培養出來！

Over time, this resulted in rainbow-colored corn.

Greg Schoen

廣告2

1994年，同為農夫的Greg Schoen在一場原始植物博覽會上遇到Carl。當時，Carl在博覽會上展示了自己的彩虹玉米，Greg一看到馬上就深受吸引，非常震驚！

A fellow farmer, Greg Schoen, met Barnes in 1994 at a native-plant gathering in Oklahoma. Barnes had his rainbow-colored corn on display. Schoen was blown away.

Greg Schoen

廣告3

接下來的那一年，Carl就給了Greg一些彩虹種子，Greg就在那年夏天開始栽種。

That following year, Barnes gave Schoen some of the rainbow seed. Schoen planted the first seeds that summer.

Greg Schoen

Carl與Greg因為一直以來感情越來越好，Carl就把越來越多的種子樣本拿給Greg。

Schoen and Barnes remained close friends, and over the years, Schoen received more samples of the rainbow seed.

Greg Schoen

剛開始於1999年，Greg只有在新墨西哥州種植少量的彩色玉米。

In the beginning, Schoen only grew small amounts of the colorful corn in New Mexico, where he moved in 1999.

Greg Schoen

到了2005年，Greg就開始在聖大菲附近擴大種植面積，把更多元的傳統種類也加種在這塊土地上。

In 2005, Schoen began growing larger plots of the rainbow corn near Sante Fe, alongside more traditional varieties.

Greg Schoen

當彩虹玉米與傳統種類混合，每年雜交下來就呈現出越來越多的顏色組合與排列模式。

When the rainbow corn mixed with the traditional varieties it created new strains. Each year of successive planting, the corn displayed more vibrant colors and vivid patterns.

Greg Schoen

根據Greg說法，Carl跟他說彩虹種子是波尼族人迷你玉米花、奧塞奇人的紅色玉米還有一種叫做「Greyhorse」的玉米種子進行雜交而成的結晶。

According to an account from Schoen, Barnes told him that the rainbow seed originally came from a crossing of "Pawnee miniature popcorns with an Osage red flour corn and also another Osage corn called ‘Greyhorse.’"

Greg Schoen

Greg自己就開始幫這些奇異顏色的各個玉米命名，從「馬戲團顏色」、「真實彩虹」、「深藍色」都有呢！

Schoen took to naming the various colors and patterns that emerged — "circus colors," "true rainbow," "deep blue," and so on.

Greg Schoen

到了2007年，長出這種藍綠色、粉紫色交雜的玉米就命名為「寶石玉米」，這就是2012當年走紅的臉書照。

"Glass Gems," seen here, was the title that Schoen came up with for a blue-green and pink-purple corn he grew in 2007. This is the original picture that went viral in 2012, turning the unique-colored corn into an Internet sensation.

Greg Schoen

到了2009年，Greg又把許多彩虹玉米種子拿給擁有種子公司的Bill McDorman。

In 2009, Schoen passed on several varieties of the rainbow seed to Bill McDorman, who owned an Arizona seed company called Seed Trust.

Greg Schoen

Bill就成了非營利種子保育組織Native Seeds/SEARCH的主導人。他把寶石玉米種子帶到組織後，現在大家都可以在網路上購買呢！

McDorman is now the Executive Director of Native Seeds/SEARCH, a non-profit conservation organization. He brought the Glass Gem seeds with him, and they can now be purchased online.

Greg Schoen

廣告4

Schoen, who is not affiliated with the company, is still living in New Mexico and working on the corn, according to Stephen Thomas, development assistant at Native Seeds/SEARCH.

Greg Schoen

在官網上，一包種子可以7.95美元 (約新台幣241.8元)，背部也有種植指示可以遵照。

On the Native Seeds/SEARCH website, one packet of seeds can be purchased for $7.95. Directions are provided on the back of the packet.

Native Seeds/SEARCH

要注意的是，玉米一般不喜歡冰霜，但只要天氣溫暖、充滿陽光之處就會長得好！至於種子，通常都在最後一次結霜時期結束後的晚春時節就能栽種了！

Corn doesn't like frost, but will grow anywhere the weather is warm and there is full sun. Seeds are generally planted after the last frost date in late spring.

Greg Schoen

種子要種2-3公分深，每個種子以15公分的間距種上至少3排 (別全部種於同一排) ，這樣才容易授粉，越種越成功。

Seeds are planted 1 inch deep and around 6 inches apart in blocks of at least three rows (rather than a single long row) for good pollination.

Greg Schoen

廣告

每一包都有大約50顆種子，一條莖上大約可以長出2-3根玉米，所以一包全部種出來都可以收成100-150根玉米。

Each packet has approximately 50 seeds. Around two to three ears per stalk grow on each stalk, so growers can expect around 100 to 150 ears of corn per packet of seed, according to Thomas.

Greg Schoen

所以，這種玉米吃起來到底是什麼味道呢？

So what does it taste like?

Greg Schoen

與一般黃色玉米不大一樣的是，寶石玉米通常不會直接從玉米芯上啃下來吃。

Unlike sweet corn, Glass Gem corn isn't generally eaten off the cob.

Greg Schoen

寶石玉米除了因為亮眼顏色而命名，同時也因為外面那一層堅硬的外殼為名。

Glass Gem is known as flint corn. The name "flint" comes from the kernel's hard outer-layer.

Greg Schoen

大多數人都會把寶石玉米磨成粉跟玉米粉一起攪拌，做成玉米餅或是玉米粥，因為它的澱粉含量很高。

Most people grind it up into cornmeal and use it in tortillas or grits because it's very starchy.

Greg Schoen

廣告

當然，它也可以拿來爆一爆，不過別期望出現彩虹爆米花就是了！

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Glass Gem Facebook Page

當然，最棒的是，它們可以拿來當美麗的裝飾品！

And for obvious reasons, Glass Gem corn is great for ornamental purposes.

Greg Schoen

For the most part, gardeners will be completely surprised by the colors of their corn.

Greg Schoen

廣告

種植的人都會很有新鮮感，感覺顏色很美的也可以把種子留下來，自己試試培養出同樣的顏色！

However, people can try to grow certain colors by saving seeds from corns that exhibit the desired features and replanting those.

Greg Schoen

For example, if you wanted mostly lavender-kerneled corn, it would be possible to save and replant seed from purple corns.

Greg Schoen

The Glass Gem Facebook page is filled with photos from people who have planted and harvested their own Glass Gem corn.

Greg Schoen

除了臉書Glass Gem Facebook Page上，貼滿了寶石玉米的照片，還有人在網路上直接種給你看呢！

廣告

來源：BusinessInsider

這些玉米是不是很可愛呢？長得這麼有趣可愛的玉米，快跟親朋好友分享吧，下次如果在夜市看到有人拿來賣，就見怪不怪了！

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