Wirt Atmar <[log in to unmask]> wrote:     As to the "purpose" of a cotton boll, cotton is a commercial crop of high 
agronomic importance, and as has been said, been selectively bred for certain 
genetic traits for more than 6000 years now. In this context, to ask "what 
purpose does the cotton boll serve the plant" is the equivalent of asking "what 
purpose does a poodle haircut serve the dog?"

   
  Thank you Wirt for answering the question.  I thought the above analogy was great.
  
Not only did you answer my question, but you gave me a lot more to read about... which I appreciate.   I won't comment again, until I get a chance to read it all.
   
  Cotton has been selectively bred for 6000 years, it would be interesting to see what it looked like then.  I am amazed at the difference in corn fields from the Civil War era to now.
   
  On a side note, I have always been a fan of the Redwood Trees.  Their majesty is hard to describe. 
  
Today, I saw my first Banyan Tree, this tree appears to grow from the top down.  The tree puts out branches which drop roots, once the root hits the ground, the trunk begins to form.
  
The tree I saw was 1 acre in size.  Yes you read that correctly, it was brought heer and planted 83 years ago.
  
The parent tree is in Indian is supposedly 1000 plus years old and covers 12-15 acres.
  
I would bet at night, it is a very spooky appearance.
   
  -Craig
  
PS, I will leave it to the reader to figure out where I am, it shouldn't be hard.
   
   

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