6io A TEXT-BOOK OF BOTANY. 



GosSYPiUM Species. — The plants are herbs or shrubs with 

 3- to 5-lobed leaves, and large axillary flowers ; the fruit is a 

 5-locular, dehiscent capsule or pod; the seeds are spherical or 

 somewhat angular and covered with long i -celled hairs, which 

 latter constitute cotton (Fig. 139). 



Fig. 335. Indian mallow, velvet leaf (Abutilon Theophrasti). A common plant grow- 

 ing in waste places, with velvety, heart-shaped leaves; yellow flowers; and characteristic 

 fruits, consisting of 12 to 15 beaked carpels. — After Brown. 



There are three important cultivated species. ( i ) Sea Island 

 Cotton is obtained from Gossypium harhadense, a plant which is 

 principally cultivated in the Southern United States and also in 

 Northern Africa, Brazil, Peru and Queensland. This species is 

 distinguished by the fact that after removal of the hairs from 



