When you hear about silks and tassels, you may think of a man playing a bagpipe, rather than a corn plant. However, a corn plant not only has silks and tassels, but ears, and at least TWO sets of roots! (Well, I guess the bagpipe player has ears, too, at the very least.)
Learn more about the anatomy of the corn plant here.
Corn silk. R. Elmore, Iowa State University Extension.