Popcorn

Popcorn (Zea mays everta), type of corn that opens and puffs open when it is heated. It belongs to the family Gramineae. A popular snack, it is a good source of fiber and does not contain many calories. A popcorn kernel contains moist starch. When the kernel is heated, the moisture turns into steam that creates pressure and causes the kernel to burst and the starch to puff out. Native to America, popcorn was cultivated by Native Americans for thousands of years before they introduced it to settlers.