tree cotton
Definition
Noun 1. A shrub (Gossypium arboreum) native to South Asia, cultivated for its ornamental flowers and, historically, for cotton fiber. 2. A small tree (Gossypium barbadense var. darwinii or related varieties) native to tropical America, known for producing cotton with long, silky fibers.
Usage
- Tree cotton is a perennial plant, unlike the more common annual cotton crops.
- The fibers from some types of tree cotton are highly valued for their quality.
- In landscaping, tree cotton is appreciated for its showy, hibiscus-like flowers.
Examples
- The botanical garden has a specimen of tree cotton with beautiful deep purple blossoms.
- The rare, extra-long staple cotton was identified as coming from a variety of tree cotton.
- Tree cotton was an important fiber plant in ancient Indian and Pakistani cultures.
Advanced Usage
- In botanical and agricultural texts, tree cotton distinguishes perennial, woody species from herbaceous, annual commercial cotton plants ().
Variants and Related Words
- Gossypium arboreum: The scientific name for the Old World (Asian) species of tree cotton.
- Gossypium barbadense: The scientific name for the New World species that includes Pima and Egyptian cotton, with some tree-like varieties.
- Perennial cotton: A descriptive term often synonymous with tree cotton.
- Cotton tree: A common name that can refer to species or other trees with cotton-like seed floss, such as .
Synonyms
- Perennial cotton
- Cotton shrub (for the smaller varieties)
Notes on Meaning
The term tree cotton has two primary referents: 1. It specifically refers to Gossypium arboreum, an ancient cultivated species from India. 2. It is also used more broadly for any cotton plant (Gossypium sp.) that grows with a significant woody, tree-like habit, as opposed to a bushy, herbaceous form.
Noun
-
East Indian shrub cultivated especially for ornament for its pale yellow to deep purple blossoms
-
small bushy tree grown on islands of the Caribbean and off the Atlantic coast of the southern United States; yields cotton with unusually long silky fibers
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