An amazingly beautiful, translucent, multicolored corn. Although the photos that went viral on the internet were awesome, they did not do justice to actually seeing an ear in my own hand. The colors displayed are rare in the plant world, let alone all contained within one ear of corn. When you peel back the husk on a dried ear while standing in the sun, you will be absolutely amazed. The kernels shimmer and shine like gemstones.  And you never know what to expect. Every ear displays a seemingly unlimited variation and combination of colors. Aside from its "presentation," 'Glass Gem' was spectacular for other reasons. The stalks were sturdy, healthy and erect reaching up to about ten feet in height.  In spite of this, in the high winds that we typically receive in the early fall, it stood. And it is also very productive. Glass Gem' is just one of the many rare maize varieties that the late Carl Barnes worked to collect, breed and protect. According to Greg Schoen (Carl's successor in the work), 'Glass Gem' is the result of crossing Pawnee miniature corn varieties with an Osage red flour corn and another Osage variety called 'Greyhorse.