Cotton plant

:For information on the history and uses of cotton fibre, see cotton.

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The cotton plant (Gossypium) is a genus of about 40 species of shrubs in the family Malvaceae, native to the tropical and subtropical regions of both the Old World and the New World.

Related Topics:
Genus - Shrub - Malvaceae - Old World - New World

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In the wild cotton shrubs can grow up to 3 m (10 ft) high. The leaves are broad and have three to five (or even seven) lobes. The seeds are contained in a capsule called a boll, each seed surrounded by a downy fibre called lint. Commercial species of cotton plant are G. hirsutum (US and Australia), G. arboreum and G. herbaceum (Asia), and G. barbadense (Egypt). While the lint naturally occurs in colors of white, brown, and green, fears of contaminating the genetics of white cotton has led many cotton-growing locations to ban growing of colored cotton varieties.

Related Topics:
Capsule - US - Australia - Egypt

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