Gossypium hirsutum

This plant makes most of the cotton we use.

It grows in many warm lands. It comes from Mexico to Brazil. It also grows on islands in the Pacific.

Some plants have long fuzz. Other plants have short fuzz. Most farms grow the long fuzz kind.

People use the plant for many things. They use it for clothes. They also use seeds to make oil.

Long ago, people grew it in Mexico. It is a very important plant.

Most cotton in the world comes from one plant. Its name is Gossypium hirsutum. People also call it upland cotton. This plant makes 90% of all cotton. In the United States, it makes 95% of the cotton. The U.S. is the largest exporter of cotton.

This plant grew in many places. It is native to Mexico and Brazil. It also grows in the Caribbean. Some of these plants grow on Pacific islands. Long ago, people grew it in Mexico. We see proof from 3,500 BC. This is the oldest proof of cotton in the Americas.

There are different kinds of this plant. Some have long fibers. These are called long staple upland. Others have short fibers. These are called short staple upland. Most farms grow the long kind.

People use this plant for many things. They use the fuzz for clothes. The Zuni people use it for special garments. They also use the seeds to make oil. The plant makes nectar. This is a sweet liquid. It helps wasps find food.

Most of the cotton we use comes from one special plant. Its scientific name is Gossypium hirsutum. Many people call it upland cotton or Mexican cotton. This plant is very important for the whole world. About 90% of all cotton comes from this species. In the United States, it is even more common. It makes up about 95% of all cotton grown there. The United States is the largest exporter of cotton in the world.

This plant has a very interesting way it began. Scientists believe it was created through a process called polyploidy. This happened when wild Mexican cotton mixed with another kind. That other kind was called Gossypium herbaceum. This mix happened about 5 to 10 million years ago. The new plant ended up with 26 pairs of chromosomes. This helped create the hybrid species we know today.

People have been using this plant for a very long time. We can find proof of this in the Tehuacan Valley in Mexico. Archeological evidence shows people grew it as far back as 3,500 BC. This is the earliest evidence of cotton growing in the Americas. We do not know the exact place where it was first grown. However, we know it grew in many different lands. It is native to places from Mexico to Ecuador. It also grows in northeast Brazil and the Caribbean.

There are different types of this cotton plant. Some have fibers that are very long. These are called long staple upland. Other types have fibers that are much shorter. These are called short staple upland. Most commercial farms choose to grow the long staple kinds. The plant also produces something called extrafloral nectar. This is a sweet liquid made outside the flower. It helps tiny parasitic wasps find food.

We use this plant for many different things in our lives. The soft fuzz can be used to make clothes. The Zuni people use the plant for ceremonial garments. They also use the fuzz to make cords for ceremonies. The seeds are also very useful to us. This plant and its relative are used to make cottonseed oil. You might find this oil in many things at home. It shows how one plant can help us in many ways.

Gossypium hirsutum is a major plant species used for fiber. It is commonly known as upland cotton or Mexican cotton. This plant is the most widely grown cotton species on Earth. It is vital to the global textile industry. About 90% of all cotton produced worldwide comes from this species. In the United States, its importance is even higher. The U.S. is the largest exporter of cotton in the world. There, this species makes up approximately 95% of all cotton production.

The biological history of this plant is quite complex. Scientists believe it began as a hybrid species. It likely formed when wild Mexican cotton mixed with Gossypium herbaceum. This mixing occurred roughly 5 to 10 million years ago. This process is known as polyploidy. Through polyploidy, the new species developed 26 pairs of chromosomes. This unique genetic makeup helped define the species we recognize today.

Humans have interacted with this plant for thousands of years. Archaeological evidence provides clues about its early history. In the Tehuacan Valley of Mexico, researchers found signs of its use. This evidence dates back as far as 3,500 BC. This is currently the earliest evidence of cotton cultivation in the Americas. While we see these ancient traces, we do not know exactly where it was first domesticated.

This species is native to many different regions. Its natural range stretches from Mexico down to Ecuador. It is also found in northeast Brazil. The plant grows in the Caribbean, specifically in the Leeward Antilles. Additionally, it is native to Pacific islands. These include Fiji, the Marianas, Polynesia, and the Revillagigedo Islands. This wide range shows how well the plant adapts to different environments.

Farmers grow different varieties of Gossypium hirsutum. These varieties are often cross-bred cultivars. They are categorized by the length of their fibers. Some varieties produce long fibers. These are called long staple upland. Other varieties produce shorter fibers. These are called short staple upland. Most commercial production focuses on the long staple varieties. This is because the longer fibers are often more useful for making cloth.

The plant also has interesting biological features. It produces something called extrafloral nectar. This is a sweet liquid produced outside of the flowers. This nectar serves a specific purpose in the ecosystem. It acts as a food source for parasitic wasps. This relationship shows how the plant connects to other living things.

Beyond making fabric, the plant has many other uses. It is not just a fiber crop. Along with Gossypium herbaceum, it is a main source of cottonseed oil. This means the seeds are valuable too. Different cultures have also used the plant for spiritual reasons. For example, the Zuni people use the plant to make ceremonial garments. They also turn the plant's fuzz into cords for use in ceremonies. This shows the plant's deep importance to human history and culture.