Cotton

Cotton is a soft, fluffy fiber that grows in a protective case, or boll, around the seeds of cotton plants belonging to the genus Gossypium in the mallow family Malvaceae. As one of the world’s leading agricultural crops, cotton is abundant and economically produced, making cotton products relatively inexpensive. The fibers can be transformed into a wide range of fabrics, from lightweight voiles and laces to heavy sailcloths and thick-piled velveteens.

Cotton is generally classified into three main groups based on staple length and appearance. This versatile industrial crop is primarily grown for the textile, food, and cosmetics industries. Additionally, cotton finds use in fishing nets, coffee filters, tents, explosives manufacture, cotton paper, and bookbinding.