<AREA SHAPE=RECT COORDS="83,243,96,258" HREF="!An open flower has creamy-white petals and measures about 2 inches (5 centimeters) across. The flower remains on the plant for about three days before the petals fall.">
<AREA SHAPE=RECT COORDS="231,244,245,256" HREF="!A cross-section of an unopened boll shows the silky white fibers and brownish seeds inside. An unopened boll is approximately the size of a walnut.">
<AREA SHAPE=RECT COORDS="462,243,476,256" HREF="!Cotton fibers are exposed when the boll dries and splits open. The fibers, which have seeds within them, are called seedcotton. Farmers harvest cotton at this stage.">
An upland cotton plant produces one to several flowers on each branch. After the petals fall, the seed pod develops into a boll. The boll then matures and opens.<NP>
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World Book illustrations by Lorraine Epstein</P>
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