More than 2200 species of the wild flora and fauna photographed in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico and the surrounding area.
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Mallows, Rock-roses, and Allies of Zihuatanejo
ORDER MALVALES
Upland Cotton
Gossypium hirsutum
Flowers by Colour
-Vascular Plants (Phylum Tracheophyta)
-Flowering Plants (Subphylum Angiospermae)
-Mallows, Rock-roses, and Allies (Order Malvales)
-Mallow and Hibiscus Family (Family Malvaceae)
-Subfamily Malvoideae
-Tribe Gossypieae
-Cottons (Genus Gossypium)
-Upland Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)
Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is the most widely grown cotton species in the world, accounting for around 90% of global cotton production. It is valued for its relatively high yield, adaptability to various climates, and good fiber quality.
Description
• Gossypium hirsutum, commonly known as upland cotton, is a shrub in the mallow family (Malvaceae) and the principal cotton species cultivated worldwide. It has broad, usually three- to five-lobed leaves, yellowish flowers with dark reddish or purple centres, and rounded seed capsules known as bolls. When mature, the bolls split open to reveal seeds covered in soft white or cream-coloured fibres used to produce cotton textiles. The plant may grow as an annual crop or as a perennial shrub in tropical climates.
Range
• Native to Mexico and Central America, Gossypium hirsutum was domesticated in Mesoamerica and is now cultivated throughout tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. It is cultivated and occurs in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and the surrounding area.
Habitat
• It grows in warm, sunny environments, including agricultural fields, gardens, disturbed ground, and areas where cotton has escaped cultivation. It thrives in well-drained soils and warm growing seasons, tolerates some drought once established, and produces the best growth with ample sunlight and adequate moisture during active growth.
