THE GENUS GOSSYPIUM 59 



set being protected by minute foliar structures which he calls 

 bractlets. These, he observes, in shape and position, seem to 

 warrant the suggestion that they are in reality the stipules of the 

 bracteoles and do not necessarily correspond with an independent 

 inner (abortive) whorl of bracts. But this seems to leave the glands 

 themselves unaccounted for, so that if they be the representatives of 

 an abortive inner whorl, the bractlets might easily enough be their 

 specially developed stipules. In part support of this opinion the 

 condition in G. Sturtii may be again mentioned where a fourth fully- 

 formed bract is often present, above and alternating with the outer 

 whorl. (See Plate No. 2, ff. 4 and 4a.) 



But in my studies of Gossypium I have come repeatedly across Bractlets. 

 bractlets on species and in regions where no record existed of any 

 destructive insects, against which they could be regarded as directly 

 called into being, such as in Cook's ' Weevil-Eesisting Adaptations.' 

 (See Plate No. 23 C. x .) It would thus seem that we may have to seek 

 additional explanations for the presence of the nectaries, the bracteoles 

 and bractlets, than those given in the case of such special cottons as 

 described by Cook. But they are structural peculiarities of great in- 

 terest to the cotton- grower, and in breeding stock must be carefully 

 considered both their presence and their absence. [Cf. G. mexi- 

 canum, p. 241.] 



Shape and Texture of Leaves. Lastly the shape, texture, and Hairs, 

 degree of hairiness of the leaves have all to be critically studied in the 

 isolation of special varieties and races of cotton. There can be no doubt 

 that too much latitude in description has led to the neglect of forms of 

 great value industrially. Elsewhere I shall endeavour to point out the 

 behaviour of the foliar hairs. It would almost seem as if, in American 

 hybridisation and selection, improvement of staple had accompanied 

 the disappearance of foliar hairs, while, as pointed out by Mr. S. V. 

 Shevade (see Professor Gammie's 'Indian Cottons,' p. 26), an 

 opposite condition might almost be said to have occurred in India 

 namely, elongation of the seed floss associated with abundance and 

 length of foliar tomentum. 



Cultivated and Wild Species. From the industrial standpoint, the 

 cotton plant is the most important member of the MALVACEAE. When 

 its fibre was first recognised by Europeans as a textile, distinct from 

 linen, hemp, and silk, it was either spoken of under its Indian classical 

 name, Cdrpasa (Karpasos of the Greeks), or its Arabic name Qutn } and 

 by botanists was called Xylon, Bombax, and finally Gossypium. Pliny 



