Maize is a

Options

A. Category
B. Taxonomic category
C. Taxon
D. Species

Answer

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Question**: The question asks what maize is classified as within biological taxonomy.

2. **Defining Taxonomy**: Taxonomy is the science of classification, where living organisms are grouped into categories based on shared characteristics.

3. **Taxonomic Hierarchy**: The classification system follows a hierarchical structure:
- Kingdom
- Phylum
- Class
- Order
- Family
- Genus
- Species

4. **Identifying Maize**: Maize, known scientifically as *Zea mays*, is a plant. To classify it, we need to determine at which level of the taxonomic hierarchy it fits.

5. **Determining the Taxon**:
- Maize is not just a species; it belongs to a genus, which is *Zea*.
- It is also part of a family (Poaceae), an order (Poales), a class (Monocotyledonae), a phylum (Angiosperms), and a kingdom (Plantae).

6. **Conclusion**: Since maize is a specific entity within the taxonomic hierarchy, it is classified as a taxon. The term "taxon" refers to any taxonomic category, which can be at any level (kingdom, phylum, class, etc.).

7. **Final Answer**: Therefore, maize is a taxon.