Final answer:
Maize (corn) is classified under Kingdom Plantae, Phylum Magnoliophyta, Class Liliopsida, Order Poales, Family Poaceae, Genus Zea, and Species Zea mays. The binomial nomenclature for maize is Zea mays, and Carl Linnaeus is credited with creating the modern classification system.
Step-by-step explanation:
Maize, commonly known as corn, is a flowering plant belonging to the monocot group, which is a phylogenetic entity that includes orchids, palms, lilies, and grasses. It falls within the Poaceae family, which is a significant family encompassing staple crops such as wheat and rice, and is also ecologically important as it often dominates regions. The maize plant's scientific classification is as follows:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Phylum: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Liliopsida
- Order: Poales
- Family: Poaceae
- Genus: Zea
- Species: Zea mays
The binomial nomenclature for maize is Zea mays, derived from its genus and species. This system of naming organisms was developed by Carl Linnaeus, who is considered the inventor of the modern classification system. His original taxonomy included three kingdoms, of which Plantae is the relevant kingdom for maize, and classified organisms into hierarchical levels which have evolved over time to include eight levels: domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.