Gossypium arboreum
L.
Tree Cotton, Cotton tree
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(c) perrybalian, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) perrybalian, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) perrybalian, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Summary
Source: WikipediaGossypium arboreum, commonly called tree cotton, is a species of cotton native to India and Sri Lanka. There is evidence of its cultivation as long ago as the Indus Valley Civilisation of the Indus River for the production of cotton textiles. The shrub was included in Linnaeus's Species Plantarum published in 1753. The holotype was also supplied by him, which is now in the Linnean Herbarium in the Swedish Museum of Natural History.
Description
A shrub. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows to 3 m high. The leaf stalk is 2-4 cm long. The leaves have 5 or 7 lobes and spread out like fingers on a hand. They are shiny above. They are parted for half the length of the leaf. The leaf blade is 4-8 cm across. The flowers occur singly in the axils of leaves. The flowers are yellow or purple. The centre is red. The fruit is a capsule. It is oblong and hangs down. It is 3 cm across. The fruit capsule has 3 valves. There are 5-8 seeds in each cell. They are 5-8 mm across.
Edible Uses
The leaves are edible. The seeds contain a large amount of oil, which can be used as a substitute for olive oil.
Traditional Uses
Oil from the seeds is edible. The leaves are also eaten.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
The juice of the root is used in the treatment of fevers.
Distribution
A tropical plant. It is native to tropical and subtropical Asia. In Nepal it grows up to 1500 m altitude. It is widely cultivated in river basins in China. It is damaged by drought and frost. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Yunnan.
Where It Grows
Africa, Arabia, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, China, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Fiji, Ghana, Himalayas, India*, Indochina, Ivory Coast, Korea, Madagascar, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pacific, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, Zambia,
Cultivation
It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 26 - 36°c, but can tolerate 18 - 38°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 750 - 1,250mm, but tolerates 500 - 1,500mm. Prefers a very sunny position in a light, fertile, well-drained soil. Plants can tolerate a range of soils, including moderate levels of salt. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7.2, tolerating 5.3 - 8.5. Requires a position sheltered from strong winds. There are two main forms of the plant:- var. Neglecta produces very short fibres. Var. Sanguinea produces strong, good quality fibre. Carbon Farming - Cultivation: regional crop. Management: standard, coppice. Perennial cotton has longer fibres and is considered superior to annual cottons. Perennial cottons are suited to arid and humid conditions while annual cottons were bred for colder climates and for mechanical harvesting. Perennial cottons are cultivated in the tropics on a smaller scale and include Gossypium arboreum burmanicum, Gossypium arboreum indicum, Gossypium arboreum soudanense, Gossypium barbadense braziliense, Gossypium barbadense darwinii, Gossypium herbaceum acerifolium, Gossypium herbaceum africanum, Gossypium hirsutum marie-galante, Gossypium hirsutum punctatum, Gossypium hirsutum taitense. Currently perennial cottons are harvested by hand. Researching perennial cottons varieties and production methods would help develop them as good carbon farming plants and help to alleviate the terrible problems caused by annual cottons.
Propagation
Seed.
Other Uses
The floss from the seedpods is used for making cloth and for oil lamp wicks. Cotton fibres have a wide range of uses including clothing, rubber-tyre fabrics, stuffing for pillows and cushions, surgical dressings, twine and rope, and carpets. The plant is also used as an industrial fibre crop.
Other Information
It is cultivated.
Notes
There are 40 Gossypium species. They grow in the tropics and subtropics. A diploid plant. In Slovenia possibly in a hot house.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Bong-vai cay, Coton, Hathi, Kapas ko bot, Kapas, Karpasamu, Karpaso, Kopa, Mokwa, Panji, Paruthi, Patti, Rui, Shu mian, Thagya-wah, Tula, Wah-gyi
References (20)
- Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 244
- Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 505
- Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 4. Kew.
- Cabalion, P. and Morat, P., 1983, Introduction le vegetation, la flore et aux noms vernaculaires de l'ile de Pentcoste (Vanuatu), In: Journal d'agriculture traditionnelle et de botanique appliquee JATBA Vol. 30, 3-4
- Etherington, K., & Imwold, D., (Eds), 2001, Botanica's Trees & Shrubs. The illustrated A-Z of over 8500 trees and shrubs. Random House, Australia. p 350
Show all 20 references Hide references
- Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 147
- Fowler, D. G., 2007, Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses. Kew. p 45
- Manandhar, N.P., 2002, Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press. Portland, Oregon. p 250
- Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 203
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- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Zeven, A. C. & de West, J. M. J., 1982, Dictionary of cultivated plants and their regions of diversity. Wageningen. p 76
