DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 



365 



with the petals ; anthers reiiif orm ; carpels several ; ovaries sev- 

 eral, united to form a several-chambered pod. This family in- 

 cludes a number of im.portant plants. 



Among the most important of these plants is the cotton 

 (Gossypium), of which there are several species and many 

 varieties. Among the most important are the herbaceous cotton 

 (G. herbac&wm) , the sea-island (G. barhadense) and the tree 



Fig. 207. — Grape production. 



cotton (G. arboreum). It is a tropical and seini-tropical plant, 

 but its exact origin is not known. It was used to some extent 

 by the ancientsi, but was not used extensively for the manufac- 

 ture of cloth until during the seventeenth century. It is claimed 

 that the Spanish explorers found cotton growing wild in Mexico 

 and that the fiber was used by the natives, but there is some 

 doubt as to whether the plants in question were true cotton. 



Cotton is used not only for the manufacture of cloth but also 

 for the manufacture of gun-cotton, collodion and other products. 



