Gossypium hirsutum Linnaeus. Upland Cotton, Short-staple Cotton. Phen: Jul-Sep. Hab: 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. Dist: Native of Central America, South America, the West Indies, and s. FL.

Origin/Endemic status: Neotropics

Taxonomy Comments: Plants in the FL Keys have larger and creamy white to pinkish flowers and petals with a maroon blotch near the base, while those from mainland s. FL have smaller flowers and uniformly pale yellowish petals, perhaps reflecting different races (R. Hammer, pers.comm., 2019). Several varieties were invalidly named based on FL material (Fryxell 1976).

Other Comments: Probably first domesticated in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Synonymy: = Ar, C, Fl4, FNA6, G, Il, K4, NcTx, NY, Tx, WH3, Fryxell (1969), Fryxell (1992); = Gossypium herbaceum L. – F, misapplied; = n/a – Pa, RAB, Tat; > Gossypium herbaceum L. – S, S13; > Gossypium hirsutum L. – S, misapplied; > Gossypium hirsutum L. var. hirsutum – K1, K3, NE; > Gossypium regiosum Roxb. – S13

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
• Great Plains: UPL
• Midwest: UPL
• Northcentral & Northeast: UPL

Heliophily: 7