When ripe and in warm weather, the flower capsule will burst and expose the cotton surrounding the seeds firmly.

Cotton as a fabric is much appreciated because of its comfortable, breathable properties, its resistance[clarification needed] and also because it is easily stained.

The cotton plant itself has medicinal uses, and can be cultivated traditionally, in house backyards, for, e.g., women's menstrual cycle pains and irregular bleeding.

It is also known to be used after birth to expel the placenta and to increase the lactation, as well as for gastrointestinal issues, such as hemorrhages and diarrhea, for nausea, fevers and headaches.

Nevertheless, small glands present in all the plant organs of the Gossypium species, except the roots, and especially abundant in the seeds, contain toxic chemicals, in particular the polyphenolic compound gossypol.