Gossypium hirsutum L.
Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (6)
Photo: Bart Wursten
Lower slopes of Mt Gorongosa, Mozambique
Photo: Bart Wursten
Lower slopes of Mt Gorongosa, Mozambique
Photo: Bart Wursten
Lower slopes of Mt Gorongosa, Mozambique
Photo: Bart Wursten
Lower slopes of Mt Gorongosa, Mozambique
Photo: Bart Wursten
Lower slopes of Mt Gorongosa, Mozambique
Photo: Bart Wursten
Lower slopes of Mt Gorongosa, Mozambique
Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
Synonyms:
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Common names:
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Cotton (English)
Mudonje (Shona)
Mushinda (Shona)
Utshinda (Ndebele)
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Frequency:
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Status:
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Cultivated and sometimes naturalised |
Description:
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Annual or short-lived perennial shrublet up to 1.5m tall. Leaves almost round in outline, 3-5-lobed to about halfway. Flowers in 1-several flowered clusters, cream to pale yellow, fading pink, with or without dark centre. Epicalyx of 3 large leaf-like bracts. Fruit a round capsule 2-4 cm in diameter, splitting to release the seeds covered in dense white cotton wool. |
Type location:
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Notes:
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Note: commonly cultivated in Zimbabwe and occasionally escaping. |
Derivation of specific name:
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hirsutum: covered with long, moderately stiff and not interwoven hairs; hirsute |
Habitat:
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Altitude range: (metres) |
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Flowering time: | Feb - May |
Worldwide distribution:
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Native to Central America |
National distribution:
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N,C |
Growth form(s):
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Endemic status:
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Red data list status:
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Insects associated with this species:
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Utetheisa pulchella (Food plant) Egybolis vaillantina (Food plant)
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Spot characters:
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Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: |
Sunday 31 January 2010 |
Literature:
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Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 60.
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Other sources of information about Gossypium hirsutum:
Our websites:
Flora of Mozambique:
Gossypium hirsutumFlora of Mozambique:
cultivated Gossypium hirsutumFlora of Zimbabwe:
cultivated Gossypium hirsutumExternal websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg):
Gossypium hirsutumAfrican Plant Database:
Gossypium hirsutumBHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library):
Gossypium hirsutumEOL (Encyclopedia of Life):
Gossypium hirsutumGBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility):
Gossypium hirsutumGoogle:
Web -
Images -
ScholariNaturalist:
Gossypium hirsutumIPNI (International Plant Names Index):
Gossypium hirsutumJSTOR Plant Science:
Gossypium hirsutumMansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops:
Gossypium hirsutumPlants of the World Online:
Gossypium hirsutumTropicos:
Gossypium hirsutumWikipedia:
Gossypium hirsutum
Copyright:
Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-25
Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M.
(2025).
Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Gossypium hirsutum. https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=139760, retrieved 29 March 2025
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