Malvaceae
Gossypium

Gossypium herbaceum L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 693 (1753)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is S. Tropical & S. Africa, Syria to Afghanistan. It is an annual and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome. It is has environmental uses, as animal food, a poison and a medicine and for food.

Descriptions

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular
algodón, algodón de árbol, algodón silvestre, algodonero
[UNAL]

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/71774505/71774521

Conservation
DD - data deficient
[IUCN]

Conservation
IUCN Red List Assessment (2021): DD.
Ecology
Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, shrubland, artificial - terrestrial.
Vernacular
Algodón, Algodón de árbol, Algodón silvestre, Algodonero, Maawui
[UPFC]

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit
Shrub, up to at least 2 m tall; stems usually covered with long spreading simple hairs
Morphology Leaves
Leaves gland-dotted; petiole 20–35 mm long; blade 2–6 x 2–7 cm, 3–5-lobed, cordate at the base, glabrescent above, stellate pubescent beneath; lobes entire, ± ovate-oblong, usually constricted at the base
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Flowers solitary, axillary; pedicels 7–30 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Epicalyx
Epicalyx bracts ovate-cordate, up to c. 3.5 x 3.5 cm, with 4–6 lanceolate teeth on each side, gland-dotted
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx 5–10 mm long, gland-dotted; teeth low, broadly triangular
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 2.5–4 cm long, yellow with dark red base
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule 25–30 mm long, glabrous, almost smooth
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds 5–7 in each cell, with long white hairs (lint) overlying shorter ones.
Distribution
Occasional occurrences in southern Somalia, at least in S2 at least earlier widely cultivated in the Old World tropics, probably native in southern Africa.
Vernacular
Suf, suuf-duureed (Somali)
[FSOM]

Uses

Use Animal Food
Used as animal food.
Use Environmental
Environmental uses.
Use Gene Sources
Used as gene sources.
Use Food
Used for food.
Use Materials
Used as material.
Use Medicines
Medical uses.
Use Poisons
Poisons.
[UPFC]

Use
A decoction of the root is used as an abortifacient in southern Somalia.
[FSOM]

Sources

  • Colombian resources for Plants made Accessible

    • ColPlantA 2021. Published on the Internet at http://colplanta.org
    • https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • IUCN Categories

    • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Plants and People Africa

    • Common Names from Plants and People Africa http://www.plantsandpeopleafrica.com/
    • © Plants and People Africa http://www.plantsandpeopleafrica.com http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Universidad Nacional de Colombia

    • ColPlantA database
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0