Image Number D1581-1

A sample of the range of colors, shapes, sizes, and textures of cotton leaves, bolls, and seeds in the National Cotton Germplasm Collection. Colored cottons, such as the orange and tan ones on the left, are used to make dye-free clothing and are native to Central and South America. The red-colored cotton boll, shown on the right, deters insect feeding.  Sharply dissected leaves, such as those near the bottom, help keep the cotton canopy aerated and free of mold in humid climates.

Photo by Peggy Greb.

640 pixels wide: (d1581-1.jpg)