Levant cotton
Gossypium herbaceum
Family: Malvaceae
What it is like
Gossypium herbaceum or commonly known as Short-Staple American Cotton or Levant Cotton is a perennial shrub native to sub-Saharan Africa and Arabia. It grows up to 6 ft high with wide, hairy leaves. The flowers are small and yellow with a purple center. The plant is a minor source of cotton fibre used for making clothes, rubber-type fabrics, stuffing material for pillows and cushions, surgical dressings, twine and ropes, and carpets. The seeds are edible when roasted; it can be used as a coffee substitute. The seed also produces oil that can be used in salads or as cooking oil. The oil contains gossypol, a substance that has an effect of lowering sperm production and possibly causing infertility in males. The seeds can also be used medicinally particularly for dysentery, intermittent fever, fibroids, herpes, scabies, wounds, and orchitis. The root bark is used for painful menstruation and to encourage milk flow in nursing mothers. The leaves are taken internally for gastroenteritis, thrush, scalds, bruises, and sores. Plant stems can be made into paper.
Gossypium herbaceum is a SHRUB growing to 1.2 m (4ft) by 1.2 m (4ft in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant is not wind tolerant.
Height (m): 1.2
Where it is found
Not known in the wild
Probably originating in S. Africa, it is only known in cultivation.
Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed
Countries/locations it is found in
Afghanistan, Africa, Asia, Australia, Botswana, China, East Africa, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Indochina, Iran, Mediterranean, Mozambique, Namibia, North America,
How it is used
Food
Rating: 3
Edible portion: Seeds, Leaves, Oil. Seed - roasted. The roasted seed can be used as a coffee substitute. An oil is obtained from the seed. Used in salads or as a cooking oil. The oil is also used in the manufacture of margarines, vegetable shortenings, lard substitutes etc. The oil contains a substance called gossypol which is believed to lower male fertility and cause infertility. The gossypol is usually removed before the oil is used for edible purposes. Leaves. Carbon Farming - Staple Crop: oil.
Oil: Oil
Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.
Coffee: the various substitutes that can be used instead of coffee.
Medicine
Rating: 3
Cotton is an astringent, slightly acidic, aromatic herb that causes uterine contractions, depresses sperm production, lowers fever, reduces inflammation and soothes irritated tissue. It also has antiviral and antibacterial actions. The root bark contains gossypol and flavonoids. It is seldom used in modern herbalism, but has been used as a milder and safer alternative to ergot (Claviceps purpurea) for inducing uterine contractions in order to speed a difficult labour. It can induce an abortion or the onset of a period, and reduces total menstrual flow. It has also been taken internally in the treatment of painful menstruation. The root bark also encourages an increased milk flow in nursing mothers and blood clotting. The roots are harvested at the end of the growing season, peeled and dried. The seeds are taken internally in the treatment of dysentery, intermittent fever and fibroids. Externally, the seeds are used to treat herpes, scabies, wounds and orchitis. The oil obtained from the seed contains a substance known as gossypol. This has the effect of lowering sperm production and possibly causing infertility in males. Research has been carried out into its potential use as a male contraceptive. It can be used to reduce heavy menstrual flow and in the treatment of endometriosis. The leaves are taken internally in the treatment of gastroenteritis. Externally, the leaves are used to treat thrush, scalds, bruises and sores. The leaves are harvested as required during the growing season.
Abortifacient: Causes an abortion.
Antibacterial: Kills bacteria.
Antiinflammatory: Reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc.
Antiviral: Treats virus diseases
Aromatic: Having an agreeable odour and stimulant qualities.
Astringent: Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
Dysentery: Used in treating dysentery - an infection of the intestines that causes diarrhoea containing blood or mucus.
Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.
Skin: Plants used in miscellaneous treatments for the skin.
Other
Rating: 4
Other Uses: The floss contained in the seedpod is used to make fibre for clothing and many other applications. Cotton fibres have a wide range of used including making clothes; rubber-tyre fabrics; stuffing material for pillows, cushions etc; surgical dressings; making twine and ropes; carpets etc. The plant stems can be used for making paper. A semi-drying oil obtained from the seeds is used for making soap. The oil cake residue can be used as a fertilizer. Yellow and brown dyes can be obtained from the petals. Carbon Farming - Industrial Crop: fiber.
Dye: Plants that provide dyes.
Fertilizer: Provides a concentrated solid plant food.
Fibre: Used for making cloth, rope, paper etc.
Oil: Vegetable oils have many uses, as lubricants, lighting, soap and paint making, waterproofing etc. This does not include the edible oils unless they are also mentioned as having other uses.
Paper: Related to the entry for Fibre, these plants have been specifically mentioned for paper making.
Soap: Plants used directly as a soap substitute.
String: Plants that can be used for string or can be easily made into a string. See also Fibre. Plants for ropes may be included.
Stuffing: Used in making soft toys, mattresses, pillows etc.
Industrial Crop: Fiber: Clothing, rugs, sheets, blankets etc. Currently, almost none of our fiber are produced from perennial crops but could be!
Management: Coppice: Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.
Staple Crop: Oil: (0-15 percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Some of these are consumed whole while others are exclusively pressed for oil. Annuals include canola, poppyseed, maize, cottonseed, sunflower, peanut. Perennials include high-oil fruits, seeds, and nuts, such as olive, coconut, avocado, oil palm, shea, pecan, and macadamia. Some perennial oil crops are consumed whole as fruits and nuts, while others are exclusively pressed for oil (and some are used fresh and for oil).
Industrial Crop: Fiber: Clothing, rugs, sheets, blankets etc. Currently, almost none of our fiber are produced from perennial crops but could be!
Management: Coppice: Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.
Staple Crop: Oil: (0-15 percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Some of these are consumed whole while others are exclusively pressed for oil. Annuals include canola, poppyseed, maize, cottonseed, sunflower, peanut. Perennials include high-oil fruits, seeds, and nuts, such as olive, coconut, avocado, oil palm, shea, pecan, and macadamia. Some perennial oil crops are consumed whole as fruits and nuts, while others are exclusively pressed for oil (and some are used fresh and for oil).
Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.
Coppice: A traditional method of woodland management which exploits the capacity of many species of trees to put out new shoots from their stump or roots if cut down.
How it is grown
Short-staple American cotton can be grown in the dry to moist tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations up to 2,200 metres. For commercial production it requires a climate that has a long, hot growing season with abundant moisture, followed by a drier period for harvesting the seed floss. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 26 - 36c, but can tolerate 18 - 38c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 750 - 1,250mm, but tolerates 200 - 1,500mm. Prefers a very sunny position in a light, fertile soil. Plants can tolerate a range of well-drained soils, including moderate levels of salt. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7.2, tolerating 5.3 - 8.5. Requires a position sheltered from strong winds. Flowering Time: Late Spring/Early Summer Mid Summer Late Summer/Early Fall. Bloom Color: Bright Yellow. Spacing: 9-12 in. (22-30 cm). Carbon Farming - Cultivation: regional crop. Management: standard, coppice. Perennial cotton has longer fibres and is considered superior to annual cottons. Perennial cottons are suited to arid and humid conditions while annual cottons were bred for colder climates and for mechanical harvesting. Perennial cottons are cultivated in the tropics on a smaller scale and include Gossypium arboreum burmanicum, Gossypium arboreum indicum, Gossypium arboreum soudanense, Gossypium barbadense braziliense, Gossypium barbadense darwinii, Gossypium herbaceum acerifolium, Gossypium herbaceum africanum, Gossypium hirsutum marie-galante, Gossypium hirsutum punctatum, Gossypium hirsutum taitense. Currently perennial cottons are harvested by hand. Researching perennial cottons varieties and production methods would help develop them as good carbon farming plants and help to alleviate the terrible problems caused by annual cottons.
Propagating it: From herbaceous stem cuttings From seed; sow indoors before last frost Seed Collecting: Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
Best place to grow:
Habit: Shrub
Hardiness: 9-12
Growth: Fast
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist
Things to keep in mind
The plant, and especially the oil from the seed, contains gossypol. It is believed that this substance, when ingested, causes reduced sperm levels and infertility in men.
Its other names
Local names
Arabian cotton, Cao mian, Khun, Levant cotton, Maltese cotton, algodao, algodoeiro, algodoeiro-asiático, algodonero, algodonero herbáceo, algodão, algodón, ambara, anagnika, arabian cotton, arale, arali, badar, baumwolle, binaula, bona, cao, mian, chvya, common cotton, coton, cotone, cotonnier, cotonnier d'asie, cotonnier herbacé, cotton, cotton plant seed, gewöhnliche baumwolle, gossypium herbaceum, habb-ul-qutn, hati, iladamoarutti, indian cotton, indisk bomull, kapas, kapasa, kapasia, kapastula, karpas, karpasa, karpasam, karpasamu, karpasasarini, karpasi, karpasu, karppasam, kirpasa, kkoottam, kopa, korpasu, krautiger baumwollstrauch, kupas, karpasa (seed), levant cotton, maltese cotton, pambadana, panji, panji karpasam, paruthi, parutti, parutti kkoottam, paththi, patt, patti ginga, pattiginga, pilya, ru, rui, sarki, shiro-bana-wata, short-staple cotton, syri, tula, tundakesi, tu??akesi, vona