Short Stories for Teachers
What Is the Origin of a Cotton Plant?
By:Sam Adams
Oldest Use
The oldest cotton fabric found was in Mexico and proved to be about 7,000 years old. There is no evidence that the cotton was cultivated, but the people did make use of the native plant.
Growth
In the wild, cotton grows as a long-lived perennial tree, but commercially grown cotton is grown as an annual shrub.
Other Uses
In addition to being grown for its fiber, cotton is also grown for its seeds, which are used to make cottonseed oil for cooking.
Fun Fact
One of cotton's original names was "vegetable wool."