American cotton (Gossypium hirsutum, Sp. Pl. ed. 2: 975 (1763))

Family: Malvaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl. ed. 2: 975 (1763)

Year: 1763

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Gossypium

Vegetable: False

Observations: Pacific, Mexico to Ecuador and NE. Brazil

Description

American cotton, scientifically known as Gossypium hirsutum, is a pivotal member of the Malvaceae family. This versatile plant holds a significant place in agriculture and industry due to its extensive use in producing cotton fiber. Classified by the renowned taxonomist Carl Linnaeus, its name was officially recorded in the second edition of “Species Plantarum” in 1763.

Gossypium hirsutum originates from diverse regions ranging from the Pacific, through Mexico, extending down to Ecuador and northeastern Brazil. This geographical distribution showcases its adaptability to varying climates and ecosystems.

The principal value of American cotton lies in its fibers, which are renowned for their quality and length, making them ideal for spinning into yarn. The plant also contributes to other sectors, providing materials for products such as cottonseed oil and animal feed derived from the seeds.

Cultivation and management of Gossypium hirsutum require careful consideration of the growing conditions to achieve optimal yield. Favorable climates typically include warm temperatures and adequate rainfall or irrigation. Proper pest and disease control measures are also crucial to maintain healthy crops.

Overall, the economic and cultural significance of American cotton cannot be overstated, as it continues to be a key crop in numerous countries around the world, supporting both local economies and global markets.

Common Names

Eng: american cotton, american upland cotton, bourbon cotton, upland cotton, american-cotton, cotton, creole cotton
Ita: cotone americano
Mlt: qotin ta’ gallipoli
Deu: uplandbaumwolle, amerikanische baumwolle
Por: algodoeiro, algodoeiro-americano, algodão
Spa: algodonero americano, algodón, algodón mexicano
Fra: coton velu, cotonnier américain
Swe: texasbomull
Ell: vamvaki
En: American cotton, Cotton, Bourbon cotton, American upland cotton, Upland cotton, American-cotton, Creole Cotton, Marie Galante cotton, Mexican Cotton, Short Staple Cotton
Zh: Lu di mian
Fr: Cotonnier américain, Coton velu, Cotonnier améicain
De: Uplandbaumwolle, Amerikanische Baumwolle, Amerikanische Baumwollpflanze
El: Vamvaki
It: Cotone americano
Mt: Qotin ta’ Gallipoli
Pt: Algodoeiro-americano, Algodoeiro, Algodão, Algdoeiro-americano
Es: Algodón, Algodonero americano, Algodón Mexicano
Sv: Texasbomull

Synonyms

• Gossypium barbadense var. hirsutum ((L.) Hook.f. & Benth.)
• Gossypium herbaceum var. hirsutum ((L.) Mast.)
• Xylon hirsutum ((L.) Medik.)

Distribution

• Aruba (native)
• Brazil Northeast (native)
• Colombia (native)
• Costa Rica (native)
• Ecuador (native)
• El Salvador (native)
• Fiji (native)
• French Guiana (native)
• Guatemala (native)
• Guyana (native)
• Honduras (native)
• Marianas (native)
• Marquesas (native)
• Mexican Pacific Is. (native)
• Mexico Central (native)
• Mexico Gulf (native)
• Mexico Northeast (native)
• Mexico Northwest (native)
• Mexico Southeast (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• Netherlands Antilles (native)
• Nicaragua (native)
• Samoa (native)
• Society Is. (native)
• Southwest Caribbean (native)
• Suriname (native)
• Tuamotu (native)
• Venezuela (native)
• Venezuelan Antilles (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Aldabra (introduced)
• Andaman Is. (introduced)
• Angola (introduced)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Belize (introduced)
• Benin (introduced)
• Brazil North (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• Brazil Southeast (introduced)
• Brazil West-Central (introduced)
• Bulgaria (introduced)
• Burkina (introduced)
• Cameroon (introduced)
• Cape Verde (introduced)
• Central African Repu (introduced)
• Chad (introduced)
• Chagos Archipelago (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Comoros (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• East Himalaya (introduced)
• Ethiopia (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Gambia (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Ghana (introduced)
• Greece (introduced)
• Guinea-Bissau (introduced)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Iraq (introduced)
• Italy (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Kazakhstan (introduced)
• Kenya (introduced)
• Kriti (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Mali (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Mississippi (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• Nepal (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New Mexico (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• Nicobar Is. (introduced)
• Niger (introduced)
• Nigeria (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• Oklahoma (introduced)
• Oman (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Romania (introduced)
• Saudi Arabia (introduced)
• Seychelles (introduced)
• Sierra Leone (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• Sri Lanka (introduced)
• Sudan (introduced)
• Tadzhikistan (introduced)
• Tanzania (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Thailand (introduced)
• Togo (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Turks-Caicos Is. (introduced)
• Uzbekistan (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Leaf

Taken Dec 29, 2019 by Léo Léo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 9, 2021 by MCP Ody (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 24, 2019 by Gonzalez Johan (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 12, 2022 by Enoch Boakye-Gyimah (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 22, 2018 by Darius Lysandre (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken May 15, 2018 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 2, 2018 by Caliel Caliel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 22, 2020 by Carolin Schmidt (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 11, 2020 by niels (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 22, 2018 by Darius Lysandre (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Oct 15, 2015 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Mar 14, 2012 by EOL − Reinaldo aguilar (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Feb 4, 2022 by Sébastien TRASBOT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 13, 2022 by Maarten Vanhove (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 26, 2021 by Trattoria salento curti vecchi leopizzi (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Aug 5, 2022 by Kathy Boyce (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 13, 2022 by Fernando Galvis (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 28, 2020 by clo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 5, 2021 by Russo Antonio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 17, 2021 by anjali chugh (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Oct 15, 2006 by EOL − Arthur Chapman (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Mar 14, 2012 by EOL − Reinaldo aguilar (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken May 9, 2017 by OTS – Oviedo-Brenes, Federico (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jul 25, 2022 by Anatas (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 18, 2019 by malini bera (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Oct 15, 2015 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Oct 15, 2015 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken May 9, 2017 by OTS – Oviedo-Brenes, Federico (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken May 9, 2017 by OTS – Oviedo-Brenes, Federico (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Oct 15, 2010 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• WFO (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3152661)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30042843-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Tree, Subshrub, Shrub

Growth