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POISONOUS AND INJURIOUS PLANTS 
Erp oy iN) 
A. 
BN—13208 
FIGURE 26.—Cotton (Gossypium sp. ) 
occurs in waste grounds, along roadsides and streams, and less often 
in cultivated fields, provision grounds, and flower gardens. The seeds 
are distributed by "animals, birds, wind, water, and by man. Cotton 
thrives best in full sun, but is shade tolerant. Plants are found on all 
soils and at all elevations including the wettest and driest areas; they 
are most common in the latter. Occasionally, cotton is planted as an 
ornamental. The plants are perhaps most conspicuous when fully 
mature with open bolls. 
Toxiciry and Symproms.—Raw cottonseeds contain appreciable 
amounts of gossypol, a substance that, in large amounts, is toxic to 
all classes of farm animals (13, 34). Mature cows and sheep can 
tolerate more gossypol than can other farm animals, and can safely 
consume small quantities of raw cottonseeds. Although appreciable 
amounts of gossypol are destroyed in the prepar ation of cottonseed 
meal, it contains enough of the material to make it toxic to certain 
animals. Calves up to 3 to 4 months of age, swine, and poultry are 
