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Cotton Facts

Cotton Facts
Cotton is a type of flowering plant that belongs to the mallow family. Cultivation of cotton started approximately 7000 years ago in Mexico (New world) and in India and Pakistan (Old world). Out of roughly 43 species of cotton, only four are cultivated on a large scale. Cotton grows in tropical and subtropical parts of Asia, Africa, Australia and America. People cultivate cotton because of the seed that represent valuable source of fibers and oil. Each year, around 25 million tons of cotton are produced in the 70 countries around the world. International cotton trade is 12 billion dollars worth business. China is the greatest manufacturer of cotton in the world.
Interesting Cotton Facts:
Cotton can grow in the form of herbaceous plant, bush or tree, depending on the variety. Cultivated varieties have erect stem with multiple branches on the upper part of the stem. Cotton usually grows 3.3 to 4.9 feet in height.
Cotton has large, green colored leaves divided in 3 to 5 lobes. They have long petioles and spiral arrangement on the branches.
Cotton produces white, yellow or red to purple flowers. Individual flowers grow from the axils of leaves.
Cotton flowers are bisexual (they contain both types of reproductive organs). Cotton is able to perform self-pollination in the case that bees-induced pollination is not possible.
Fruit of cotton is leathery capsule called "boll". Immature capsule covers white fibers that protect seed (that are located inside). Mature capsule splits to release seed (then fibers become visible).
Cotton fibers can be white, green, rust-colored, pink or brown. Most commonly cultivated varieties of cotton produce white fibers.
Cotton propagates via seed. Harvest takes place 180 to 200 days after planting.
Cotton fibers are used in the manufacture of materials such as corduroy, velour, velvet, flannel and jersey. These materials are later used in textile industry for the production of T-shirts, underwear, jeans, towels and bed sheets.
500 pounds of cotton can be transformed into 680.000 cotton balls, 215 pairs of jeans, 750 shirts or 4.300 pairs of socks.
Cotton fibers are used in the medical industry for the manufacture of bandages, cotton swabs and tents.
Cotton oil extracted from the seed is used as vegetable oil in the human diet.
Cotton oil is used in the industry of food (as an ingredient of margarines) and in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry. It is also used for the production rubber and plastics.
Cottonseed meal (leftovers of seed after extraction of the oil) is used as food for animals.
Aztecs used brown cotton fibers as currency. Ancient Peruvians used dark colored cotton fibers for the manufacture of fishing nets (dark fibers reduce visibility of nets in the water).
Cotton is perennial (lifespan: over 2 years), but it is often cultivated as annual plant (lifespan: one year).


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