what is cotton

Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium in the mallow family Malvaceae. It is the most widely produced natural fiber on the planet. Cotton fibers come from the seed coat, the outer layer of the cotton plants seeds. Before they can be turned into sheets or t-shirts, the cotton seeds must first be separated from the plant, and then the fibers from the seeds. Cotton is used to make a number of textile products, including terrycloth for highly absorbent bath towels and robes, denim for blue jeans, cambric, popularly used in the manufacture of blue work shirts, and corduroy, seersucker, and cotton twill. Socks, underwear, and most T-shirts are made from cotton, and bed sheets are often made from cotton as well. Cotton is a natural cellulosic cream-white fluffy staple fiber that grows inside a protective shell (ball-shaped) around the seeds of a cotton plant. Cotton fabrics can be extremely durable and resistant to abrasion, and they accept many dyes, are usually washable, and can be ironed at relatively high temperatures.