Gossypium hirsutum

Upland cotton
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Gossypium
Species:
G. hirsutum
Binomial name
Gossypium hirsutum
L.

Gossypium hirsutum, also known as upland cotton or Mexican cotton, is the most widely planted species of cotton in the world. Globally, about 90% of all cotton production is of cultivars derived from this species.[2] In the United States, the world's largest exporter of cotton, it constitutes approximately 95% of all cotton production.[3][4] It is native to Mexico, the West Indies, northern South America, Central America and possibly tropical Florida.[5][6]

Archeological evidence from the Tehuacan Valley in Mexico shows the cultivation of this species as long ago as 3,500 BC, although there is as yet no evidence as to exactly where it may have been first domesticated.[7] This is the earliest evidence of cotton cultivation in the Americas found thus far.

Gossypium hirsutum includes a number of varieties or cross-bred cultivars with varying fiber lengths and tolerances to a number of growing conditions. The longer length varieties are called "long staple upland" and the shorter length varieties are referred to as "short staple upland". The long staple varieties are the most widely cultivated in commercial production.

Besides being fibre crops, Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium herbaceum are the main species used to produce cottonseed oil.

The Zuni people use this plant to make ceremonial garments,[8] and the fuzz is made into cords and used ceremonially.[9]

Flowers of Gossypium hirsutum

This species shows extrafloral nectar production.[10]

  1. ^ Wegier, A.; Alavez, V.; Vega, M.; Azurdia, C. (2019). "Gossypium hirsutum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T71774532A71774543. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T71774532A71774543.en. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  2. ^ World Cotton Production, Yara North America
  3. ^ "USDA ERS - Cotton Sector at a Glance". www.ers.usda.gov. Retrieved 2019-02-18.
  4. ^ Davenport, Coral (2023-02-18). "How Climate Change Is Making Tampons (and Lots of Other Stuff) More Expensive". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  5. ^ "Gossypium hirsutum". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  6. ^ Wendel; et al. (November 1992). "Genetic Diversity in Gossypium hirsutum and the Origin of Upland". American Journal of Botany. 79 (11). JSTOR: 1291–1310. doi:10.2307/2445058. JSTOR 2445058.
  7. ^ Smith, C. E.; Stephens, S. G. (1971). "Critical identification of Mexican archaeological cotton remains". Economic Botany. 25 (2): 160. doi:10.1007/BF02860076. S2CID 24273337.
  8. ^ Stevenson, Matilda Coxe 1915 Ethnobotany of the Zuni Indians. SI-BAE Annual Report #30 (p. 77)
  9. ^ Stevenson, p.92
  10. ^ Röse USR, Lewis J, Tumlinson JH. Extrafloral nectar from cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) as a food source for parasitic wasps. Functional Ecology 2006; 20:67-74.