Common name: Cotton
Gossypium hirsutum L. APNI*
Description: Erect perennial or annual to 1.5 m high, often with reddish stems and petioles.
Leaves with lamina to 12 cm long and wide, 3-lobed; petiole 1–3 times as long as lamina; stipules falling early.
Epicalyx segments deeply laciniate, usually with 4–10 teeth c. 30 mm long. Calyx truncate or with acute lobes or teeth, the entire part < 6 mm long. Petals 3–4 cm long, white to yellow, turning pink with age.
Capsule ovoid to ± globose, 3–5 cm long, 3–5-locular; seeds 6–8 mm long, covered with white hairs 2–3 cm long.
Distribution and occurrence: Commercially cultivated for cotton, common on roadsides in cotton-growing areas. Native of Amer.
NSW subdivisions: *CC, *CWS, *NWP, *SWP
Other Australian states: *Qld *N.T.
Text by A. S. Mitchell & E. H. Norris Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 1 (1990)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data ***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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