Cotton
ExplorePlants
Cotton
Callitriphora
Cotton is a soft, fluffy fiber that grows in bolls on cotton plants. It is used to make clothes, sheets, and other textiles. Cotton plants need lots of sunlight and warm temperatures to grow well.
Habitat: Farms
Appearance
The Cotton plant has green, lobed leaves and creamy yellow flowers that fade to pink or red. Its most unique feature is the fluffy white 'boll' that bursts open when ripe, revealing soft fibers around its seeds.
KingdomPlantaePhylumMolluscaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderMalvalesFamilyMalvaceaeGenusGossypium
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Cotton fibers are so strong, they're used to make banknotes too!
Cotton plants were first farmed over 7,000 years ago in Mexico!
Each cotton fiber is actually a tiny hollow tube, like a miniature straw!
The fluffy 'cotton ball' you see is called a boll, and it protects the seeds!
Special abilities
Ability
Seed Spreader
Cotton has lightweight, fluffy fibers that help its seeds catch the wind and float far away to find new places to grow.
Ability
Natural Protector
The cotton boll acts like a tough, natural armor, keeping its precious seeds safe until they are ready to burst open.
Ability
Fiber Factory
Cotton can grow incredibly strong and soft fibers right on its seeds, which protect them and aid in dispersal.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 90-180 cm
- Spread
- 60-90 cm
- Flower Size
- 5-7 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Pollination Method
- Self
Ecological connections
eats
Boll Weevil
Anthonomus grandis
larvae feed on cotton bolls
pollinates
European honey bee
Apis mellifera
collects nectar and pollen
depends on
Human
Homo sapiens
cultivates for fiber and oil
Traits
Fiber
This human use trait identifies species that yield natural fibers, used by humans for textiles, rope, paper, and other manufactured goods.
Agricultural
This human use trait describes species cultivated or domesticated by humans for agricultural purposes, including crops and livestock.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Also known as
Cotton PlantCotton Tree
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Cotton plants are safe to touch, but be careful around machinery used in cotton farming.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Cotton?
90-180 cm
How wide does Cotton spread?
60-90 cm
How big are the flowers on Cotton?
5-7 cm
When does Cotton bloom?
Summer
Is Cotton edible?
Yes
Is Cotton toxic?
None
What is Cotton's lifecycle?
Annual
How is Cotton pollinated?
Self
Snap Map
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