2 INDIAN COTTONS. 
is obtuse or acute, venation longitudinally sub-parallel. Calyx 
gamosepalous, campanwate or cupular, /imb entire or irregularly 
toothed, accrescent and usually splitting in fruit, with three 
glands often secreting a nectar-like exudation at the base exter- 
nally. Corolla polypetalous, petals 5, contorted dark purple, 
pink, yellow or white with a dark eye, straight or reflexed, 
adnate to the base of the andreciwm. Stamens indefinite, 
monadelphous, lower part of the tube usually naked, upper part 
(exclusive of the very apex) with one-celled anthers on short 
erect or spreading filaments. Ovary superior, synearpous, 3- 
4-celled, ovules numerous on axile placentas, lower part of style 
entire, the upper exserted part of 3 to 4 more or less connate and 
twisted arms bearing the stigmatic surfaces. Capsule or boll 
usually 3- but sometimes 4-celled, almost spherical or ovoid, sub- 
trigonous acuminate, the point consisting of the short, persistent 
basal part of the style; dehiscence loculicidal, valves strongly 
reflexed so that the cotton becomes pendulous. Seed with a hard 
testa and spiny hilum, naked or covered with short down called 
fuzz or velvet and longer unicellular twisted, white or tawny hairs 
which constitute the cotton of commerce. 
It is customary amongst botanists to assume that the numer- 
ous forms of cotton plants have become inextricably complicated 
and dificult to understand and distinguish through hybridization. 
After seven years of almost constant observation of a large series 
of Indian cottons grown in parallel plots in one block on the 
farm at Poona, I consider that this position is untenable and select 
the following facts to support my contention that Indian cottons 
are normally self-fertilized. A large number of varieties pro- 
cured from almost every part of the country has been grown 
in contiguous lines without hybridization occurring. Altaough a 
number of hybrids has been artificially produced, not one of these 
can be matched with any known variety. The stigmas are usually 
pollinated immediately on the opening of the flower which, more- 
over, remains open for a very short time. Bees and small flies 
are fond of visiting the glands oulside the calyx for the sake of 
the nectar ; some beetles eat the petals ; but few insects enter the 
