About Cotton Plants

Significance

• Cotton fiber is the cotton plant's major harvested part. Cotton is the most widely used natural fiber in the world. The United States harvests 7.2 billion pounds of cotton annually.

Types

• The cotton plant belongs to the genus Gossypium, which contains more than 30 species. However, five types of cotton are grown commercially: Egyptian, Upland, Sea Island, Asiatic and American Pima.

Function

• Cotton can be harvested, spun into yarn and woven or knitted into cloth. Cotton is also used to produce home furnishings and industrial parts. Cottonseed is used to create livestock feed, and cottonseed oil is used in food products such as salad dressing.

Geography

• The United States, China, Turkey, Brazil, India and Pakistan grow cotton plants as crops. Wild "uncultivated" cotton grows in Australia, Africa, Central America, South America and the United States.

Features

• Features of cotton plants vary by species and location. Cotton plants can grow to 6 feet tall, with leaves that resemble a maple leaf. The plant produces a boll that contains seeds that grow up to 20,000 fibers each. Outer, longer fibers are harvested for cloth.