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{{SPlantbox
| latin_name = ''LATINNAME'' <!--- replace LATINNAME with the actual latin name -->
|genus=Gossypium
| common_names = <!--- if multiple, list all, if none, leave blank -->
|common_name=Cotton
| growth_habit = ? <!--- tree, shrub, herbaceous, vine, etc -->
|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia ISBN 0881925381
| high = ? <!--- 1m (3 ft) -->
|habit=shrub
| wide = <!--- 65cm (25 inches) -->
|habit_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia ISBN 0881925381
| origin = ? <!--- Mexico, S America, S Europe, garden, etc -->
|Temp Metric=°F
| poisonous = <!--- indicate parts of plants which are known/thought to be poisonous -->
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
|image=Koeh-068.jpg
|image_width=200
| image = Koeh-068.jpg
| image_width = 180px <!--- leave as 240px if horizontal orientation photo, or change to 180px if vertical -->
}}
}}
'''''Gossypium''''' is a [[genus]] of 39-40 species of [[shrub]]s in the [[Malva|mallow]] family, [[Malvaceae]], native to the tropical and subtropical regions of both the [[Old World]] and the [[New World]]. The cotton plants, sources of [[cotton|commercial cotton]] fabric, are included in this genus.
Cotton shrubs can grow up to {{convert|3.0|m|ft|abbr=on}} high. The leaves are broad and lobed, with three to five (or rarely seven) lobes. The seeds are contained in a [[capsule (fruit)|capsule]] called a '''boll''', each seed surrounded by fibres of two types.
These fibres are the commercially interesting part of the plant and they are removed by a process called [[ginning]]. At the first ginning the longer fibres, called staples, are removed and these are twisted together to form yarn for making thread and weaving into high quality textiles. At the second ginning the shorter fibres, called linters, are removed, and these are woven into lower quality textiles including the eponymous Lint.
Commercial species of cotton plant are ''G. hirsutum'' (90% of world production), ''G. barbadense'' (8%), ''G. arboreum'' and ''G. herbaceum'' (together, 2%). While cotton fibres occur naturally 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 coloured cotton varieties.
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Gossypium (ancient name of the cotton plant). Malvaceae. Cotton. Perhaps thirty or more species of herbs and shrubs of warm countries, although more than 100 have been described; some authorities reduce them to about three. They are grown for the fiber that is borne on the seeds. See Cotton. They are scarcely horticultural subjects, and therefore are not treated fully in this work.
Gossypium (ancient name of the cotton plant). Malvaceae. Cotton. Perhaps thirty or more species of herbs and shrubs of warm countries, although more than 100 have been described; some authorities reduce them to about three. They are grown for the fiber that is borne on the seeds. See Cotton. They are scarcely horticultural subjects, and therefore are not treated fully in this work.
;Commercial cotton species{{wp}}
;Commercial cotton species{{wp}}
Commercial [[cotton]] fibres, used to manufacture [[cloth]], are derived from the fruit of the cotton plant. The following species are grown commercially:
Commercial [[cotton]] fibres, used to manufacture [[cloth]], are derived from the fruit of the cotton plant. The following species are grown commercially:
* ''[[Gossypium arboreum]]'' [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]] – Tree cotton, native to [[India]] and [[Pakistan]].
* ''[[Gossypium arboreum]]'' [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]] – Tree cotton, native to [[India]] and [[Pakistan]].
* ''[[Gossypium barbadense]]'' L. – known as American Pima, Creole, Egyptian, or Sea island cotton, native to tropical [[South America]].
* ''[[Gossypium barbadense]]'' L. – known as American Pima, Creole, Egyptian, or Sea island cotton, native to tropical [[South America]].
* ''[[Gossypium herbaceum]]'' L. – Levant cotton, native to southern [[Africa]] and [[Arabian Peninsula]].
* ''[[Gossypium herbaceum]]'' L. – Levant cotton, native to southern [[Africa]] and [[Arabian Peninsula]].
* ''[[Gossypium hirsutum]]'' L. – Upland cotton, native to [[Central America]], [[Mexico]], the [[Caribbean]] and southern [[Florida]] - most commonly grown species in the world.
* ''[[Gossypium hirsutum]]'' L. – Upland cotton, native to [[Central America]], [[Mexico]], the [[Caribbean]] and southern [[Florida]] - most commonly grown species in the world.
;Non-commercial species {{wp}}
;Non-commercial species {{wp}}
* ''[[Gossypium australe]]'' [[Ferdinand von Mueller|F.Muell]] – Endemic to north-western [[Australia]]
* ''[[Gossypium australe]]'' [[Ferdinand von Mueller|F.Muell]] – Endemic to north-western [[Australia]]
* ''[[Gossypium darwinii]]'' - Darwin's cotton, found only on the [[Galapagos Islands]]
* ''[[Gossypium darwinii]]'' - Darwin's cotton, found only on the [[Galapagos Islands]]
* ''[[Gossypium sturtianum]]'' [[Jim Willis|J.H. Willis]] – Sturt's Desert Rose, native to [[Australia]].
* ''[[Gossypium sturtianum]]'' [[Jim Willis|J.H. Willis]] – Sturt's Desert Rose, native to [[Australia]].
* ''[[Gossypium thurberi]]'' Tod. – Arizona wild cotton, native to [[Arizona]] and northern [[Mexico]].
* ''[[Gossypium thurberi]]'' Tod. – Arizona wild cotton, native to [[Arizona]] and northern [[Mexico]].
* ''[[Gossypium tomentosum]]'' [[Thomas Nuttall|Nutt.]] ex Seem – ''Ma‘o'' or Hawaiian cotton, endemic to the [[Hawaiian Islands]].
* ''[[Gossypium tomentosum]]'' [[Thomas Nuttall|Nutt.]] ex Seem – ''Ma‘o'' or Hawaiian cotton, endemic to the [[Hawaiian Islands]].
Many varieties of cotton have been developed by selective breeding and hybridization of the above species. Experiments are ongoing to cross-breed various desirable traits of wild cotton species into the principal commercial species, such as resistance to insects, disease and drought-tolerance.
Many varieties of cotton have been developed by selective breeding and hybridization of the above species. Experiments are ongoing to cross-breed various desirable traits of wild cotton species into the principal commercial species, such as resistance to insects, disease and drought-tolerance.
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