Gossypium barbadense
Linnaeus described the species in 1753, naming it Gossypium barbadense after the island of Barbados. Modern botanists place this plant within the mallow family, Malvaceae. A recent study by Bayer and colleagues in 1999 situates cottons in the subfamily Malvoideae and tribe Gossypiae. The genus Gossypium divides into groups based on chromosome counts. Subgenus Karpas contains 52 chromosomes arranged in four sets of 13. This group includes G. barbadense alongside other New World cottons like G. hirsutum. Commercial Old World cottons possess only 26 chromosomes. Most experts believe these 52-chromosome species share a common ancestor. One variety known as var brasiliense features fused seeds forming kidney-shaped masses. These botanical distinctions separate wild forms from domesticated crops.
A single leaf measures between 8 centimeters and 20 centimeters in length. It displays three to seven lobes that extend two-thirds down the blade. Cotton flowers bloom with five petals reaching up to 8 cm long. Sea Island cultivars show creamy yellow petals marked with a red spot at the base. As these flowers wither, they turn rose pink. Each seed capsule called a bole produces 5 to 8 seeds measuring 8 to 10 mm. Wild plants contain very little fiber compared to domesticated varieties. Some modern cultivars lack short fibers entirely, earning the label lintless. All cottons produce gossypol, a chemical making the plant poisonous to non-ruminant animals. The bolls open when mature to reveal snowball-like clusters of fiber. Frost kills the perennial form, forcing farmers to treat it as an annual crop.
Archaeologists found evidence of widespread use along the coast of present-day Ecuador and Peru about 5000 years ago. Stronger evidence exists at sites dating back 5500 years, while weaker traces reach 7800 years. Investigators at one circa 5500 year-old site in the Nacoc valley argue domestication occurred elsewhere before arrival. By 1000 BCE, Peruvian cotton bolls were indistinguishable from modern cultivars. Native Americans grew cotton throughout South America and the West Indies. Christopher Columbus encountered indigenous peoples raising G. barbadense as dooryard crops near their homes. Wild forms persist today in a small area near the Guayas Estuary in Ecuador. An island off Manta also hosts wild populations. These tropical plants require long summers for bolls to mature if grown as annuals.
Barbados became the first English colony in the West Indies to export cotton to Europe by the 1650s. European colonists established plantations operated by white indentured servants and Black slaves during the 17th century. Sea Island cotton commanded the highest price due to its silky texture and long staple length. It was used for fine counts often mixed with silk. Francis Levett, an Englishman, was among the earliest planters of Sea Island cotton in North America. He left his Georgia plantation at the outbreak of the American Revolution to attempt production in the Bahamas. Unusual weather in 1785 and 1786 helped develop production when mild winters allowed plants to produce seed. Kinsey Burden developed high-quality cotton through seed selection on Burden's Island and Johns Island in the first decade of the 1800s. Commercial scale production ended in 1920 after boll weevils caused tremendous damage.
The term extra-long-staple entered usage in 1907 to define fibers longer than a specific threshold. Sea Island cotton was actively marketed from 1790 to 1920 across islands off South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Egyptian cotton represents crops grown in Egypt and Sudan starting commercial production in 1820. A French engineer named Jumel recognized potential when seeing it as ornamental in Cairo. The name Pima became popular for cotton grown in the southwestern United States after 1902. David Fairchild visited Egypt that year bringing back cultivars for USDA teams. Thomas H. Kearney released the first successful cultivar named Yuma near an Arizona experiment station. His second cultivar named Pima dominated irrigated lands from 1918 until 1941. Tanguis accounts for about 80% of Peru's cotton production despite being shorter fiber. American Pima growers established Supima to enforce quality standards for finished products.
G. barbadense accounts for approximately 5% of global cotton production today. Major growing regions include China, Egypt, Sudan, India, Australia, Israel, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Farmers grow this species in the southwestern United States including California, West Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. As of 2005, American Pima accounted for less than 5% of U.S. cotton production. Different species must not hybridize in adjacent fields or fiber quality suffers. Gossypol content makes seeds unsuitable for animal feed compared to other kinds. Most production creates clothing using fine yarns for lace and high thread-count cloth. Historical uses included cords for automobile tires and cloth for aircraft wings. Modern industrial applications rely on strong fibers found in long-staple varieties. Specialized short-fibered cultivars serve niche markets while others support luxury goods.
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Common questions
When did Linnaeus describe the species Gossypium barbadense?
Linnaeus described the species in 1753. He named it after the island of Barbados.
How many chromosomes does subgenus Karpas contain for Gossypium barbadense?
Subgenus Karpas contains 52 chromosomes arranged in four sets of 13. This group includes G. barbadense alongside other New World cottons like G. hirsutum.
Where were wild forms of Gossypium barbadense found by archaeologists 5000 years ago?
Archaeologists found evidence of widespread use along the coast of present-day Ecuador and Peru about 5000 years ago. Wild forms persist today in a small area near the Guayas Estuary in Ecuador.
Which English colony first exported Gossypium barbadense to Europe by the 1650s?
Barbados became the first English colony in the West Indies to export cotton to Europe by the 1650s. European colonists established plantations operated by white indentured servants and Black slaves during the 17th century.
What percentage of global cotton production does Gossypium barbadense account for today?
G. barbadense accounts for approximately 5% of global cotton production today. Major growing regions include China, Egypt, Sudan, India, Australia, Israel, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.