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'''''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.
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