A shrub native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, producing corn-like seed heads used by indigenous peoples.
From Spanish 'elote' (corn) plus the diminutive suffix '-illo,' meaning 'little corn.' The plant was named for its resemblance to corn ears.
Desert plants adapted to harsh conditions often fed indigenous peoples—elotillo seeds were a critical food source in the Southwest, yet most modern Americans have never heard of it!
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