Taxon:  Gossypium hirsutum L.



Summary
Genus:
Gossypium
Subgenus:
Karpas
Family:
Malvaceae
Subfamily:
Malvoideae
Tribe:
Gossypieae
Nomen number:
17917
Place of publication:
Sp. pl. ed. 2, 2:975.  1763
Verified:
08/10/1999 ARS Systematic Botanists.
Accessions:
7351 (6984  active, 5248  available) in National Plant Germplasm System.  (Map it)
Other conspecific taxa
Conservation Status

Reference(s)
  1. Afonin, A. N., S. L. Greene, N. I. Dzyubenko, & A. N. Frolov, eds. Interactive agricultural ecological atlas of Russia and neighboring countries. Economic plants and their diseases, pests and weeds (on-line resource).
  2. Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
  3. APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
  4. Beasley, J. O. 1942. Meiotic chromosome behavior in species, species hybrids, haploids, and induced polyploids of Gossypium. Genetics 27:25-54.
  5. Brubaker, C. L. & J. F. Wendel. 1994. Reevaluating the origin of domesticated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum; Malvaceae) using nuclear restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). Amer. J. Bot. 81:1309-1326. Note: provides evidence for considering the Yucatan peninsula as the site for early domestication
  6. Brubaker, C. L. et al. 1999. Production of fertile hybrid germplasm with diploid Australian Gossypium species for cotton improvement. Euphytica 108:199-213. Note: it reported sterile synthetic hybrids in crosses between Gossypium hirsutum and C and G-genome species, although crosses with K-genome species G. nobile and G. populifolium resulted in viable hybrids with "limited fertility"
  7. Coppens d'Eeckenbrugge, G. & J.-M. Lacape. 2014. Distribution and differentiation of wild, feral, and cultivated populations of perennial upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) in Mesoamerica and the Caribbean. PLoS One 9(9):e107458. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107458.
  8. Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas
  9. Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
  10. Encke, F. et al. 1984. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 13. Auflage
  11. Facciola, S. 1990. Cornucopia, a source book of edible plants Kampong Publications.
  12. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2010. Ecocrop (on-line resource).
  13. Fryxell, P. A. 1976. A nomenclator of Gossypium. The botanical names of cotton. Techn. Bull. U.S.D.A. 1491:39.
  14. Fryxell, P. A. 1979. The natural history of the cotton tribe 68-70.
  15. Fryxell, P. A. 1992. A revised taxonomic interpretation of Gossypium L. (Malvaceae). Rheedea 2:161.
  16. Fryxell, P. A. 1996. pers. comm. Note: re. uses
  17. Jardín Botánico Nacional. 1998-. Flora de la República de Cuba
  18. Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
  19. Kellerman, T. S. et al. 1988. Plant poisonings and mycotoxicoses of livestock in Southern Africa Note: poisonous
  20. Kingsbury, J. M. 1964. Poisonous plants of the United States and Canada. Note: poisonous
  21. León, B. 1994. pers. comm. Note: re. Spanish common names
  22. Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
  23. Lubbers, E. L. & P. W. Chee. 2009. The worldwide gene pool of G. hirsutum and its improvement. In: Paterson, A. H., ed., Genetics and genomics of cotton 23-52.
  24. Markle, G. M. et al., eds. 1998. Food and feed crops of the United States, ed. 2
  25. McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
  26. McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana.
  27. Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970-. Flora of [West] Pakistan.
  28. Paul, T. K. & M. P. Nayar. 1988. Malvaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 19:115.
  29. Pereira, G. S. et al. 2012. Selective fertilization in interspecific crosses of allotetraploid species of Gossypium. Botany 90:159-166.
  30. Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient
  31. Porcher, M. H. et al. Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (MMPND) (on-line resource).
  32. Rapp, R. A. et al. 2010. Gene expression in developing fibres of Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) was massively. B. M. C. Biol. 8:139. Note: this study provided evidence of changes in the seed fiber microstructure between wild populations (as Gossypium hirsutum "var. yucatanense") and domesticated ones
  33. Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
  34. Uphof, J. C. T. 1968. Dictionary of economic plants, ed. 2.
  35. Wendel, J. F. et al. 1992. Genetic diversity in Gossypium hirsutum and the origin of upland cotton. Amer. J. Bot. 79:1291-1310.
  36. Wendel, J. F. et al. 2009. Evolution and natural history of the cotton genus. In: Paterson, A. H., ed., Genetics and genomics of cotton 3-22.
  37. Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
  38. Wunderlin, R. & B. Hansen. Atlas of Florida vascular plants (on-line resource). Note: treats Florida populations as native
Common names
LanguageNameAlternate namenoteseqCitation
EnglishAmerican cotton  1Paul, T. K. & M. P. Nayar. 1988. Malvaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 19:115.
EnglishAmerican upland cotton  1Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
EnglishBourbon cotton  1Paul, T. K. & M. P. Nayar. 1988. Malvaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 19:115.
Englishcotton  1Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Englishupland cotton  1Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Frenchcoton velu  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Frenchcotonnier américain  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Germanamerikanische Baumwolle  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
GermanUplandbaumwolle  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Portuguesealgodoeiro-americano  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanishalgodón  2León, B. 1994. pers. comm. Note: re. Spanish common names
Spanishalgodonero americano  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Swedishtexasbomull  2Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Transcribed Chineselu di mian  2Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Distribution
order_codeStatusContinentSubcontinentCountryStateNoteReference
1NativeNorthern AmericaSouthern MexicoMexicoYucatánwild populations in the Yucatan peninsulaMcVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana.
1NativeSouthern AmericaCentral AmericaBelize  Brubaker, C. L. & J. F. Wendel. 1994. Reevaluating the origin of domesticated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum; Malvaceae) using nuclear restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). Amer. J. Bot. 81:1309-1326. Note: provides evidence for considering the Yucatan peninsula as the site for early domestication
1NativeSouthern AmericaCentral AmericaEl Salvador  Brubaker, C. L. & J. F. Wendel. 1994. Reevaluating the origin of domesticated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum; Malvaceae) using nuclear restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). Amer. J. Bot. 81:1309-1326. Note: provides evidence for considering the Yucatan peninsula as the site for early domestication
1NativeSouthern AmericaCentral AmericaGuatemalaPeténwild populationsFryxell, P. A. 1992. A revised taxonomic interpretation of Gossypium L. (Malvaceae). Rheedea 2:161.
1NativeSouthern AmericaCentral AmericaHonduras  Brubaker, C. L. & J. F. Wendel. 1994. Reevaluating the origin of domesticated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum; Malvaceae) using nuclear restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). Amer. J. Bot. 81:1309-1326. Note: provides evidence for considering the Yucatan peninsula as the site for early domestication
1NativeSouthern AmericaCentral AmericaNicaragua  Brubaker, C. L. & J. F. Wendel. 1994. Reevaluating the origin of domesticated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum; Malvaceae) using nuclear restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). Amer. J. Bot. 81:1309-1326. Note: provides evidence for considering the Yucatan peninsula as the site for early domestication
2Cultivated    widely cult.Wendel, J. F. et al. 2009. Evolution and natural history of the cotton genus. In: Paterson, A. H., ed., Genetics and genomics of cotton 3-22.
5UncertainNorthern AmericaSoutheastern U.S.A.United StatesFlorida Fryxell, P. A. 1992. A revised taxonomic interpretation of Gossypium L. (Malvaceae). Rheedea 2:161.
5UncertainPacificSouth-Central PacificFrench PolynesiaMarquesas Islands Fryxell, P. A. 1992. A revised taxonomic interpretation of Gossypium L. (Malvaceae). Rheedea 2:161.
5UncertainPacificSouthwestern PacificSamoa  Fryxell, P. A. 1992. A revised taxonomic interpretation of Gossypium L. (Malvaceae). Rheedea 2:161.
5UncertainSouthern AmericaCaribbeanCuba  Jardín Botánico Nacional. 1998-. Flora de la República de Cuba
5UncertainSouthern AmericaCaribbeanHispaniola  Brubaker, C. L. & J. F. Wendel. 1994. Reevaluating the origin of domesticated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum; Malvaceae) using nuclear restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). Amer. J. Bot. 81:1309-1326. Note: provides evidence for considering the Yucatan peninsula as the site for early domestication
5UncertainSouthern AmericaCaribbeanJamaica  Brubaker, C. L. & J. F. Wendel. 1994. Reevaluating the origin of domesticated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum; Malvaceae) using nuclear restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). Amer. J. Bot. 81:1309-1326. Note: provides evidence for considering the Yucatan peninsula as the site for early domestication
5UncertainSouthern AmericaCaribbeanUnited StatesPuerto Rico Fryxell, P. A. 1992. A revised taxonomic interpretation of Gossypium L. (Malvaceae). Rheedea 2:161.
5UncertainSouthern AmericaSouthern South AmericaParaguayPresidente Hayes Wendel, J. F. et al. 2009. Evolution and natural history of the cotton genus. In: Paterson, A. H., ed., Genetics and genomics of cotton 3-22.
Native
Northern America
  • SOUTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Yucatán (wild populations in the Yucatan peninsula)]
Southern America
  • CENTRAL AMERICA: Belize, Guatemala [Petén (wild populations)], Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador
Cultivated (widely cult.)
Uncertain
Northern America
  • SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Florida]
Pacific
  • SOUTH-CENTRAL PACIFIC: French Polynesia [Marquesas Islands]
  • SOUTHWESTERN PACIFIC: Samoa
Southern America
  • CARIBBEAN: Hispaniola, Cuba, Jamaica, United States [Puerto Rico]
  • SOUTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: Paraguay [Presidente Hayes]

Reference(s)
  1. Brubaker, C. L. & J. F. Wendel. 1994. Reevaluating the origin of domesticated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum; Malvaceae) using nuclear restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). Amer. J. Bot. 81:1309-1326. Note: provides evidence for considering the Yucatan peninsula as the site for early domestication
  2. Fryxell, P. A. 1992. A revised taxonomic interpretation of Gossypium L. (Malvaceae). Rheedea 2:161.
  3. Jardín Botánico Nacional. 1998-. Flora de la República de Cuba
  4. McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana.
  5. Wendel, J. F. et al. 2009. Evolution and natural history of the cotton genus. In: Paterson, A. H., ed., Genetics and genomics of cotton 3-22.
Economic Uses
UsageTypeNoteReference
Animal foodfodderseed mealFryxell, P. A. 1996. pers. comm. Note: re. uses
Human foodoil/fat Facciola, S. 1990. Cornucopia, a source book of edible plants Kampong Publications.
Materialsfiber Uphof, J. C. T. 1968. Dictionary of economic plants, ed. 2.
Medicinesfolklore Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
Medicinesfolklore McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Vertebrate poisonsmammals Kingsbury, J. M. 1964. Poisonous plants of the United States and Canada. Note: poisonous
Vertebrate poisonsmammals Kellerman, T. S. et al. 1988. Plant poisonings and mycotoxicoses of livestock in Southern Africa Note: poisonous
Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=17917. Accessed 9 May 2026.