MALVACE^ 



509 



from either axillary or extra-axillary buds. Normal fruit- 

 ing branches arise only from extra-axillary buds. It fre- 

 quently happens that both a fruiting and a vegetative branch 

 arise at one node, that is, both the extra-axillary and true 

 axillary buds develop. Ordinarily, however, only one bud 

 at a node develops. The axillary buds usually develop into 



Fig. 213. — Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). A, mature boll opened out; 

 B, cross-section of young boll; C, single seed with fibers; D, young boll. 



branches at only a few nodes on the lower part of the main 

 stem. The accompanying extra-laterals remain dormant. 

 On the other hand, the upper true axillary buds normally 

 fail to develop, while each of their accompanying extra- 

 laterals forms a fruiting branch. Hence, in most cultivated 

 cotton varieties, no fruiting branches occur on the lower part 

 of the main stem. 



