162 



COTTON 



which support the yellow anthers. The style has a three- or 

 five-lobed stigma which passes from the seed-vessel through, 

 and some distance beyond, the staminal tube. 



The fruit consists of a green capsule or boll containing 

 numerous dark- brown seeds, each covered with long, white, 



COTTON PLANT 



flattened, and twisted hairs. The capsule is surrounded at the 

 base by the three tooth-edged bracts. When the fruit is ripe 

 the capsule bursts open and discloses a mass of white fluffy 

 material. This is the cotton of commerce, and it consists of 

 the innumerable hairs covering the seeds, which are themselves 

 entirely hidden from view. 



These hairs or fibres vary very considerably in length and 

 thickness : one and three-quarter to two inches is the usual 



