Map Endemic achyranthes* ‘äma‘u älula* ‘äwikiwiki bonamia* Clay's Hibiscus* cyperus cyperus sedge eugenia häpu‘u kauila* ko‘oloa‘ula* koa kulu‘ï kupukupu lama loulu palm ma‘o mämaki nänü* ‘ohai (shrub) * ‘ohai (tree) * ‘öhia lehua white hibiscus   Indigenous alahe‘e hinahina ‘ilie‘e ‘ilima kou laua‘e fern naio palapalai pili grass pöhinahina ‘uki‘uki ‘ülei variegated hau   Polynesian Introduced coconut kalo kukui red ginger red ti leaf ti leaf sugar cane ulu   Introduced cotton cup of gold eucalyptus heliconia hibiscus manila palm monstera octopus tree pink tecoma plumbago plumeria tangerine wiliwili     *endangered species

Common Name Cotton or Egyptian Cotton Hawaiian Name None Scientific Name Gossypium barbadense Pictures Kaiona Whole Plant Leaves Fruits Stems Seeds Location On Campus It is located outside of room 52 at Kaiona. It is also located behind room 54 at Kaiona. Natural Habitat This plant grows in warm and temperate climates, also growing in dry, disturbed areas. Cultural Information This plant was introduced in Hawai‘i. Wild populations are known only to coastal Ecuador, although it was probably widespread along Pacific and Atlantic coasts. It was introduced to Hawai‘i in the 1800's, but never became an important crop. Plant Description Stem: Has a woody stem which grows into many different branches About 90-120 cm tall, 5-10 cm wide Grayish-brown in color, covered with many bumps Leaves: Simple leaves Palmate venation Parted margin Smooth on top, but rough on the bottom Green in color Flowers: Large, white or yellow in color Round shape Fruit: Dry fruit that is white, puffy, and soft, known as the cotton Single fruit or cotton is about 4.5 cm long and 1.5 cm wide Fruit is not edible Seeds: 0.75 cm long, and 0.5 cm wide Dark in color, 15 seeds spread throughout the entire fruit Smooth, almond-shaped Dispersed by the wind Pollinators: Can be self-pollinating Bees sometimes pollinate cotton Life Cycle/ Reproduction: Cotton is a perennial shrub, (present during all seasons of the year) 3 stages of growth Can reproduces by self-pollination Propagation/ Cultivation: Needs full sunlight, high humidity, and high rainfall Sensitive to frost Interesting Facts: Oldest cotton textiles recorded from South America from archaeological excavations in northern Chilean desert date to 3600 BC. Web Site Links One Hundred Percent Cotton This is a location of information on this type of cotton, including a detailed description of this plant. Google Search Results This site will show pictures of cotton. King Cotton Magazine This is a magazine website with recent information on cotton in America. References Cotton. The Marshall Cavendish Illustrated Encyclopedia of Plants and Earth Sciences. University of Hawaii Press: 1988. Herbst, Derral R., S. H. Sohmer, Warren L. Wagner. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii vol. 1. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1999. One Hundred Percent Cotton. Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden. 13 Mar. 2003. <http://www.botgard.ucla.edu/html/botanytextbooks/economicbotany/Gossypium/> Tropilab®Inc. 11 Mar. 2003. <http://www.tropilab.com/gossyp-bar.html> Return to Top

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