Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Rosids: Malvids: Malvales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Gossypium hirsutum
FAMILY
Malvaceae
Go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Read more about Upland Cotton at Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
Agricultural cotton is now a complex set of cultivars, some involving cross-breeding between Gossypium barbadense and Gossypium hirsutum, and some plants may not be readily identifiable to species, per Weakley's Flora (2022)
INCLUDING
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Gossypium hirsutum var. hirsutum
FAMILY
Malvaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Gossypium hirsutum
SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America
Gossypium hirsutum
INCLUDING Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Gossypium herbaceum
INCLUDING (MISAPPLIED) Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Gossypium hirsutum
COMMON NAME:
Upland Cotton, Short-staple Cotton
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
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JK Marlow jkm161106_124
November Williamsburg County SC
Agricultural cotton now a complex set of cultivars, per Weakley's Flora (2015).
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JK Marlow jkm161106_129
November Williamsburg County SC
An epicalyx of bracts immediately subtends the calyx, per Weakley's Flora (2015).
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JK Marlow jkm161106_132
November Williamsburg County SC
Leaf blade shallowly 3-5-lobed, lobes broadly ovate, base cordate, per Flora of North America.
)
JK Marlow jkm161106_134
November Williamsburg County SC
Corolla pale yellow (vs. that of Sea-island Cotton deep yellow), per Weakley's Flora (2015).
)
JK Marlow jkm161106_136
November Williamsburg County SC
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JK Marlow jkm161106_139
November Williamsburg County SC
Capsules smooth, glabrous. Seeds comose, hairs (cotton) usually white, per Flora of North America.
)
JK Marlow jkm181111_5840
November Williamsburg County SC
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Gossypium hirsutum
FAMILY
Malvaceae
INCLUDING
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Gossypium hirsutum var. hirsutum
FAMILY
Malvaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Gossypium hirsutum
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Flora of North America
Gossypium hirsutum
INCLUDING
Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Gossypium herbaceum
INCLUDING (MISAPPLIED)
Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Gossypium hirsutum
4060
Shrub; Tree
Annual/Perennial
Habitat: Coastal hammocks, rockland hammock edges, coastal rock barrens (in FL peninsula), disturbed areas, a frequently cultivated crop, especially in sandy soils of the Coastal Plain, rarely adventive or a waif where grown, per Weakley's Flora
Non-native: Central & South America, the West Indies, south Florida
Rare
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.
LEAVES:
Simple
Alternate
Leaves are subtended by stipules.
FLOWER:
Summer/Fall
Pale yellow
5 sepals united at base or more than half their length
5 petals united at base
Stamens united to form a staminal column surrounding ovary and styles
Superior ovary
FRUIT:
Capsule
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
If a search such as "Carex leptalea var. leptalea" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "Carex leptalea".
Or, to minimize chances of a misspelling, try just "Carex le".
Less is more: If "pencil flower" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "pencil".