Cotton

Gossypium is taxonomic genus of plants from which commercial cotton is derived. It is an annual subshrub which grows to be about 1.5 meters tall. The leaves are normally 7.5 to 15 centimeters across. The seeds of this plant are inside of the cotton balls it produces. The Gossypium grows around warm arid regions. It requires a very dry climate with a rainfall that averages about 500mm annually. The cotton fibers isolated from this plant are used to manufacture cloth used for clothing and other products. The seeds within the cotton can be used in cooking items such as margarine and shortening.

Anatomy
The Gossypium is an annual subshrub. It usually grows to be about 1.5 meters in height. It contains both vegetative and fruiting branches. The leaves are alternate and vary between 7.5-15cm across. There are about 6-8 flowers on every fertile branch. The flowers are normally a yellow or white shade. The fruit of the gossypium is a form of cotton bearing two different kinds of hairs along the epidermis. There are short hairy fibers which are attached strongly to the to the seed coat named "fuzz". The longer fibrous hairs are called lint. There are approximately 100 seeds within each ball of cotton. This shrub has an extremely well developed taproot system. It contains many different laterals which can penetrate as deep as three meters.

Reproduction
The seeds of this plant lie within the cotton. The wind will tend to blow the cotton over the land, and if it lands in a suitable place for growing, the seed will plant and growth will begin. It can not grow under any moist conditions whatsoever. If it lands in a fairly warm arid climate, it will take root, and begin to grow. There is about a 2 or 3 month period of dormancy, where the plant itself will seem inactive. By the time the seed is planted, the flower begins to be produced within 80-110 days. However, the ball will not open for about another 55-80 or so days. After only one season of growth, minerals and nutrients within the soil begin to become depleted. Therefore, some type of stimulation is required to produce a good harvest next season. Some cotton farmers like to use fertilizers, while others prefer crop rotation.

Ecology
This shrub exists mainly in California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Texas, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. It most often needs to be in a warm climate that is often dry. The plant is sensitive to cold temperatures and weather such as frost. If the plant becomes frosted over too often, then the cotton could possibly be ruined. It is meant to grow in warm plains regions. The Gossypium grows primarily from sea level to 1,200 meters in altitude. Although, there are some perennials that have been found to grow in areas up to 1,800 meters above sea level. This cotton plant requires a long season for growing. It typically takes between 180-200 days free of frost to become fully mature. The temperatures must be fairly high during this time, averaging 21-22 degrees Celsius. It must be in an area which receives vast amounts of sunlight throughout the year. This plant requires a region that gets no more than 500mm of rainfall annually.

Usage
The Gossypium is grown and harvested primarily for the fibrous white hairs, known as cotton, that it produces. This raw material is used in a wide variety of industries. However, it is most commonly known for its usage within the textile industry. If you were to look at the tag on your shirts or other garments in your closet, you would find that some percentage of them (sometimes 100% cotton) are made out of cotton. While all variations of cotton plants are important, the Gossypium hirsutum L. is said to be the most useful. This plant provides the the world with the majority of commercial cotton. Although, the Gossypium is important for clothing and such, textiles is not the only thing it is used for. The seeds of the cotton produce a type of oil used in margarine, cooking oils, shortening, salad oils, and in some cases a protective covering. The residue lefty from the seed is used in a protein complex to feed livestock.

Related References

 * United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service
 * Native Plant Information Network
 * Purdue University Center for new Crops
 * Wikipedia