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Home Home » TYPES » Shrubs » Gossypium herbaceum subsp. africanum presenting its wild cotton
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Gossypium herbaceum subsp. africanum presenting its wild cotton

Gossypium herbaceum subsp. africanum presenting its wild cotton
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  • Gossypium herbaceum subsp. africanum
  • Gossypium herbaceum subsp. africanum capsule
  • Gossypium herbaceum subsp. africanum capsule husk
  • Gossypium herbaceum subsp. africanum epicalyx
  • Gossypium herbaceum subsp. africanum flower
  • Gossypium herbaceum subsp. africanum gland dots
  • Gossypium herbaceum subsp. africanum leaf from below
  • Gossypium herbaceum subsp. africanum leaves
  • Gossypium herbaceum subsp. africanum presenting its wild cotton
  • Halleria elliptica
  • Halleria elliptica flower
  • Halleria elliptica leaves
  • Hermbstaedtia glauca
  • Hermbstaedtia glauca flowerhead
  • Heterolepis aliena
  • Heterolepis aliena before and after flowering
  • Heterolepis aliena flowerhead

Image information

Description

Once the fruit capsule of Gossypium herbaceum subsp. africanum bursts open, the white cotton-like contents stream out. The seeds inside their cotton coverings are black.

Carried away by birds or whatever means are adopted by the particular forces operating in the environment at the time, seed dispersal is a vital function. It capitalises on whatever opportunities are presented from the event, random but for the odds of its specific characteristics, the environmental features and some weather conditions and random factors. The process is repeated umpteen times, once for every viable seed launched in the casino of nature with its pattern of bias.

Statistics favour the prolific. There are no devious or twisted minds here, only a twisting capsule and epicalyx tips indicating player origin. Every dry seed is a serious player with one chance to germinate, going for broke (Pooley, 1998; Onderstall, 1996; Letty, 1962; iSpot; Mannheimer and Curtis, (Eds.), 2009; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000).

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Photographer
Ivan Latti
Author
Ivan Latti
 
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