Brown Midrib

Brown pigment covers veins on leaf sheath and blades. Color is most apparent on midrib. Plant produces less lignin so corn used for silage has greater digestibility (Neuffer, Coe, and Wessler, 1997).

Close-up of leaves to showcase the central brown stripe on otherwise all green leaf.
Upper leaf surface; note brown "streak" in the center of leaf.
Vertical view of the top part of a green leaf showing a lighter, but still noticeably brown, midrib.
Upper leaf surface.
Vertical view of leaf at the lower base to show prominent brown rib
Lower surface of leaf with brown midrib visible.