Cotton comes from the shrubby plants of the genus Gossypium. The shrub grows in tropical and subtropical regions around the world including the Americas, Africa, and India and Australia.
It is the fibres of the plant’s white flowers, which resemble fine wool, that are used to make thread and fabric. Cotton has been known to be used in fabric since 5000 BC.
Cotton is one of the most common types of fabric used in clothing and therefore the output from cotton crops is very important for many economies.
China is the world's largest producer of cotton and uses most of its production domestically. The United States is the largest exporter of cotton.