Fruiting Branch During Flowering

Side and top views of a cotton fruiting branch when its second flower has just opened. The petals of the first flower have fallen off to reveal a boll (fruit) starting to grow. The third flower is still developing inside its square (flower bud). Fruiting branches of cotton are sympodial and have a zig-zag between branch internodes. This is caused by the true apical bud at each node developing into a square, leaving an axillary (side) bud at an angle to take over as apex of the branch.

Last updated: Jim Hanan, 15 January 1997