Gossypium hirsutum
Gossypium hirsutum
Safety & Hazards
Some forms of this plant contain the toxin gossypol - glandless cultivars are free of this toxin[ 301 Title Cornucopia II Publication Author Facciola. S. Publisher Kampong Publications, California. Year 1998 ISBN 0-9628087-2-5 Description The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc. ].
Botanical Description
Gossypium hirsutum varies in habit. The stems are more or less woody and the plant can assume the habit of a tree or shrub. At other times the stems can die back and the plant is perennial or even annual. It can grow 2 metres or more tall. The plant is very widely cultivated for the fibre obtained from the seed floss, which is used to make cloth and many other items[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ]. The plant also supplies a useful oil. There are many named varieties[ 301 Title Cornucopia II Publication Author Facciola. S. Publisher Kampong Publications, California. Year 1998 ISBN 0-9628087-2-5 Description The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc. ].