Gossypium hirsutum
Encyclopedia
Gossypium hirsutum, known as Upland Cotton or Mexican Cotton, is the most widely planted species of cotton
in the United States, constituting some 95% of all cotton production and is native to Central America
and possibly Mexico
Worldwide, the figure is about 90% of all production for this species.
Archeological evidence from the Tehuacan Valley in Mexico
shows the cultivation of this species as long as 5,000 years ago. This is the earliest evidence of cotton cultivation in the Americas found thus far.
Gossypium hirsutum includes a number of varieties or cross-bred cultivar
s 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.
Gossypium
Gossypium is the cotton genus. It belongs to the tribe Gossypieae, in the mallow family, Malvaceae, native to the tropical and subtropical regions from both the Old and New World. The genus Gossypium comprises around 50 species , making it the largest in species number in the tribe Gosssypioieae....
in the United States, constituting some 95% of all cotton production and is native to Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and possibly Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
Worldwide, the figure is about 90% of all production for this species.
Archeological evidence from the Tehuacan Valley in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
shows the cultivation of this species as long as 5,000 years ago. This is the earliest evidence of cotton cultivation in the Americas found thus far.
Gossypium hirsutum includes a number of varieties or cross-bred cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
s 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.
External links
- Cotton Botany at Cotton Inc.
- The Story of Cotton
- Upland cotton at Plant of the Week
- Upland cotton in herbal use