Family: Malvaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 693 (1753)
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Gossypium
Vegetable: False
Observations: Colombia to Peru
Description
American pima cotton, scientifically named Gossypium barbadense, is a species of cotton valued for its incredibly fine, strong, and soft fibers. This plant falls under the Malvaceae family, commonly known as the mallow family, which includes a variety of other economically and ecologically significant species.
Originally described in 1753, Gossypium barbadense is indigenous to the regions extending from Colombia to Peru. These areas provide the ideal growing conditions for this type of cotton, which thrives in tropical climates with plenty of sunlight and consistent rainfall. The plant itself is a perennial shrub that can grow up to 3 meters tall, producing large, showy yellow flowers with a purplish heart.
One of the key distinguishing features of American pima cotton is its fibers. Compared to other cotton species, the fibers of Gossypium barbadense are notably longer and silkier. This translates into textiles that are luxuriously smooth yet incredibly durable. This superior quality makes American pima cotton highly sought after for high-end apparel, bed linens, and other fabric products where touch and durability are imperative.
Another important aspect of Gossypium barbadense cultivation is its economic impact. Countries like Peru have developed a rich tradition around cotton farming, with American pima cotton playing a central role. This has not only bolstered local economies but also supported sustainable farming practices tailored to the plant’s needs. Farmers often utilize crop rotation and organic pest control to maintain soil health and reduce environmental impact.
In summary, American pima cotton is a remarkable plant species from the Malvaceae family, distinguished by its high-quality fibers and significant economic contributions. Native to the regions from Colombia to Peru, it has garnered a reputation for excellence that stands out in the global cotton market.
Common Names
Eng: american pima cotton, american-egyptian cotton, brazilian cotton, creole cotton, egyptian cotton, gallini cotton, peruvian cotton, pima cotton, sea island cotton, kidney cotton, long-staple cotton, upland cotton
Deu: sea island-baumwolle, westindische baumwolle
Por: algodoeiro-americano, algodão
Spa: algodonero de las barbados, algodón
Fra: coton des indes occidentales, cotonnier d’egypte
Swa: pamba ya kisendji
Swe: västindisk bomull
En: American Pima cotton, Brazilian cotton, Egyptian cotton, Peruvian cotton, Long-staple cotton, Sea Island cotton, Gallini cotton, Kidney cotton, Pima cotton, American-Egyptian cotton, Upland cotton, Creole cotton, Peruvia Cotton, Cotton, Sea-island cotton
Af: Langvesel katoen
Ar: قطن مصري
Bm: Kɔɔriba
Ca: Cotoner Pima
Zh: 海岛棉
Da: Vestindisk Bomuld, Barbados-Bomuld
Nl: Amerikaanse katoen
Fi: Länsi-intianpuuvilla
Fr: Cotonnier d’Egypte, Coton des Indes Occidentales, Cottonier d’Egypte, Cotonnier, Coton
De: Westindische Baumwolle, Sea Island-Baumwolle
Ht: Pye koton
Ko: 해도면
Pt: Algodoeiro-americano, Algodão do pantanal, Algogoeiro-americano, Algodão
Es: Algodón, Algodonero de las Barbados
Sw: Pamba ya kisendji
Sv: Västindisk bomull
Uz: Janubiy amerika gʻoʻzasi
Synonyms
- Gossypium barbadense f. casimiranum (Roberty)
- Gossypium calycotum (O.F.Cook & J.W.Hubb.)
- Gossypium brasiliense var. apospermum (Sprague)
- Gossypium barbadense var. vitifolium ((Lam.) Triana & Planch.)
- Hibiscus barbadensis var. latifolius (Kuntze)
- Gossypium barbadense subvar. vitifolium ((Lam.) Wouters)
- Hibiscus barbadensis ((L.) Kuntze)
- Gossypium jamaicense f. fruticulosum ((Tod.) Roberty)
- Neogossypium barbadense ((L.) Roberty)
- Gossypium maritimum (Tod.)
- Gossypium trichospermum (Raf.)
- Hibiscus barbadensis f. oligospermus (Kuntze)
- Gossypium peruvianum var. braziliense ((Raf.) Prokh.)
- Gossypium maritimum var. polycarpum (Tod.)
- Gossypium teleium (Raf.)
- Gossypium barbadense var. rufum (Wittm.)
- Gossypium barbadense var. microcarpum ((Tod.) Roberty)
- Gossypium barbadense var. apospermum ((Sprague) Roberty)
- Gossypium barbadense subsp. peruvianum ((Cav.) Roberty)
- Gossypium barbadense var. eubarbadense (Roberty)
- Gossypium acuminatum (Roxb. ex G.Don)
- Gossypium virgatum (Raf.)
- Gossypium peruvianum var. sprucei (Roberty)
- Gossypium microcarpum var. rufum (Tod.)
- Gossypium nigrum (Buch.-Ham.)
- Gossypium peruvianum var. nigrum ((Buch.-Ham.) Roberty)
- Gossypium speciosum (Raf.)
- Gossypium barbadense var. integrum (Griseb.)
- Gossypium barbadense subsp. microcarpum ((Tod.) Roberty)
- Gossypium lapideum subsp. brasiliense ((Macfad.) Roberty)
- Gossypium multiglandulosum (Phil.)
- Hibiscus barbadensis var. lanceolatum (Kuntze)
- Gossypium barbadense var. caravonicum ((Roberty) Roberty)
- Gossypium pallens (Raf.)
- Gossypium pedatum (G.Watt)
- Gossypium barbadense subsp. vitifolium ((Lam.) Roberty)
- Gossypium tenax (Raf.)
- Gossypium isabelum (Raf.)
- Gossypium barbadense subvar. maritimum ((Tod.) Wouters)
- Gossypium barbadense f. maritimum ((Tod.) Roberty)
- Gossypium barbadense var. pedatum ((G.Watt) Roberty)
- Hibiscus barbadensis f. racemosus (Kuntze)
- Gossypium peruvianum subsp. sprucei (Roberty)
- Gossypium guyanense (Raf.)
- Gossypium niveum (Raf.)
- Gossypium peruvianum subsp. nigrum ((Buch.-Ham.) Roberty)
- Hibiscus fruticulosus ((Tod.) Kuntze)
- Gossypium barbadense f. eggersii (Roberty)
- Gossypium barbadense var. brasiliense ((Raf.) Fryxell)
- Gossypium frutescens var. maritimum ((Tod.) Prokh.)
- Gossypium barbadense var. acuminatum ((Roxb. ex G.Don) Triana & Planch.)
- Gossypium lapideum (Tussac)
- Gossypium sarmentosum (Raf.)
- Gossypium jumelianum ((Tod.) Prokh.)
- Gossypium barbadense subsp. typicum (Roberty)
- Gossypium auritum (O.F.Cook & J.W.Hubb.)
- Gossypium barbadense subsp. racemosum ((Poir.) Roberty)
- Gossypium barbadense subvar. peruvianum ((Cav.) Triana & Planch.)
- Gossypium barbadense f. suffruticosum ((Bertol.) Roberty)
- Hibiscus barbadensis deciduus (Kuntze)
- Gossypium arboreum subsp. perenne ((Blanco) Mauer)
- Gossypium peruvianum var. brasiliense ((Macfad.) J.Hern.)
- Gossypium nankin (Raf.)
- Gossypium quinacre (O.F.Cook & J.W.Hubb.)
- Gossypium versicolor (Lign. & Bey)
- Gossypium peruvianum subsp. racemosum ((Poir.) Roberty)
- Gossypium evertum (O.F.Cook & J.W.Hubb.)
- Gossypium guyanense var. brasiliense (Raf.)
- Gossypium barbadense var. maritimum ((Tod.) G.Watt)
- Gossypium cambayense (Raf.)
- Gossypium glabrum (Lam.)
- Gossypium peruvianum (Cav.)
- Gossypium perenne (Blanco)
- Hibiscus barbadensis f. fruticulosus (Kuntze)
- Gossypium peruvianum var. apospermum ((Sprague) Prokh.)
- Gossypium microcarpum (Tod.)
- Gossypium barbadense subsp. sprucei ((Roberty) Roberty)
- Gossypium rupestre (Raf.)
- Gossypium brasiliense (Macfad.)
- Gossypium fruticulosum (Tod.)
- Gossypium barbadense var. cayanense (Roberty)
- Gossypium barbadense var. peruvianum ((Cav.) Mauer)
- Gossypium barbadense f. vitifolium ((Lam.) Roberty)
- Gossypium peruvianum var. glabrum ((Lam.) Roberty)
- Gossypium herbaceum var. vitifolium ((Lam.) Mast.)
- Gossypium peruvianum subsp. typicum (Roberty)
- Gossypium microcarpum var. luxurians (Tod.)
- Gossypium pubescens (Splitg. ex de Vriese)
- Gossypium racemosum (Poir.)
- Gossypium peruvianum var. racemosum ((Poir.) Roberty)
- Gossypium rohrianum (Raf.)
- Gossypium virens (Raf.)
- Gossypium suffruticosum (Bertol.)
Distribution
- Colombia (native)
- Ecuador (native)
- Peru (native)
- Andaman Is. (introduced)
- Angola (introduced)
- Ascension (introduced)
- Assam (introduced)
- Bahamas (introduced)
- Bangladesh (introduced)
- Belize (introduced)
- Benin (introduced)
- Bolivia (introduced)
- Borneo (introduced)
- Brazil North (introduced)
- Brazil Northeast (introduced)
- Brazil West-Central (introduced)
- Cambodia (introduced)
- Cameroon (introduced)
- Caroline Is. (introduced)
- Cayman Is. (introduced)
- Chad (introduced)
- Chile Central (introduced)
- Chile North (introduced)
- China South-Central (introduced)
- China Southeast (introduced)
- Christmas I. (introduced)
- Cook Is. (introduced)
- Cuba (introduced)
- Dominican Republic (introduced)
- East Himalaya (introduced)
- Egypt (introduced)
- Ethiopia (introduced)
- French Guiana (introduced)
- Gabon (introduced)
- Gambia (introduced)
- Ghana (introduced)
- Guinea (introduced)
- Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
- Guyana (introduced)
- Hainan (introduced)
- Haiti (introduced)
- Hawaii (introduced)
- Honduras (introduced)
- Jamaica (introduced)
- Kenya (introduced)
- Laccadive Is. (introduced)
- Laos (introduced)
- Leeward Is. (introduced)
- Liberia (introduced)
- Maldives (introduced)
- Marianas (introduced)
- Marquesas (introduced)
- Marshall Is. (introduced)
- Mauritius (introduced)
- Mexico Southwest (introduced)
- Nauru (introduced)
- Nepal (introduced)
- Nicobar Is. (introduced)
- Niger (introduced)
- Nigeria (introduced)
- Pitcairn Is. (introduced)
- Puerto Rico (introduced)
- Rodrigues (introduced)
- Réunion (introduced)
- Senegal (introduced)
- Sierra Leone (introduced)
- Society Is. (introduced)
- Socotra (introduced)
- Southwest Caribbean (introduced)
- Sri Lanka (introduced)
- Sudan (introduced)
- Suriname (introduced)
- Tadzhikistan (introduced)
- Tanzania (introduced)
- Thailand (introduced)
- Togo (introduced)
- Tonga (introduced)
- Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
- Tuamotu (introduced)
- Tubuai Is. (introduced)
- Turkmenistan (introduced)
- Uganda (introduced)
- Uzbekistan (introduced)
- Venezuela (introduced)
- Venezuelan Antilles (introduced)
- Vietnam (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 Aug 27, 2010 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 15, 2022 by araujo karina (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 26, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 6, 2019 by Gonzalez francisco (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 9, 2019 by Anne Chapuis (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken May 2, 2020 by Ray. Ray. my.superhero (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 21, 2019 by that’s someguy (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 8, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Sénégal ENGOUEMENT (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − W. L. Wagner (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Mar 7, 2021 by Sébastien TRASBOT (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Feb 22, 2022 by Garofalo Vera (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 20, 2020 by JP Corrêa Carvalho (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 26, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 26, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 1, 2019 by randos csms (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Dec 13, 2019 by Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 8, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Sénégal ENGOUEMENT (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 4, 2021 by Sébastien TRASBOT (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 26, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken May 8, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Sénégal ENGOUEMENT (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 16, 2022 by Espinoza-Zevallos Marco Elías (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 8, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Sénégal ENGOUEMENT (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 4, 2021 by Sébastien TRASBOT (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Oct 9, 2021 by Sébastien TRASBOT (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 9, 2021 by Sébastien TRASBOT (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 4, 2021 by Sébastien TRASBOT (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 27, 2010 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3152666)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:559677-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Gossypium barbadense L.)
Specifications
Growth habit: Tree, Subshrub, Shrub
Growth
