cotton

A subtropical plant of the genus Gossypium, grown for the soft white fibers attached to its seed, which can be woven into cloth. The seeds are planted in the early spring and the plats bloom after four months. The white flowers redden and fall in a few days, leaving the seed pods, which are fully grown in another month or so. These pods then burst, showing the white lint, which is picked either by hand or mechanically. Each fiber is a single cell, with numerous twists along its length, which give it excellent spinning characteristics.

A number of species and their varieties are grown. Cultivated varieties of Gossypium barbodense produce fibers 36–64mm (1.4–2.5in) long, G. hirsutum (the American upland cotton) fibers 21–32mm (0.8–1.3in.), and the Asiatic species G. herbaceum and G. arboreum fibers 9–19mm (0.4–0.8 in.).

Mechanization of the cotton processing industry was one of the first stages of the Industrial Revolution. It is still an important industry, although consumption of cotton has not risen since the development of man-made textiles. However, 80% of the yarn from spinning mills is still made into cloth, the remainder being used in industry. The seed is now used for oils and cattle food, while small fibers are made into cellulose.

Related category

• BOTANY

Also on this site:

Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living
Encyclopedia of History

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