Gossypium armourianum

Kearney

J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 23: 558. 1933.

Common names: Wild cotton
Introduced
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 6. Treatment on page 250.

Plants 1 m, compact. Stems terete, glabrate. Leaves: stipules subulate, 1–3 mm; petiole terete, 1/2 to as long as blade; blade unlobed, ovate, 1.5–3 cm, coriaceous, base cordate, apex acute or subacuminate, surfaces glabrate. Inflorescences solitary flowers. Pedicels 2–6.5 cm, with 3 prominent nectaries apically; involucellar bractlets deciduous before anthesis, ligulate, 0.5–1 cm, margins entire. Flowers: calyx 5–7 mm, apex subtruncate or 5-toothed; petals yellow with red spot at base, 2.5–4.5 cm; staminal column 12–14 mm, glabrous; style somewhat shorter than petals; stigmas 3–5. Capsules 3- or 4-locular, subglobose or ovoid, 1.5 cm, with sunken glands, externally glabrous, internally ciliate. Seeds 8 mm, strigose, with tightly appressed brownish hairs. 2n = 26.


Phenology: Flowering spring–summer.
Habitat: Open, arid habitats
Elevation: 100–200 m

Distribution

V6 454-distribution-map.jpg

Introduced; Calif., Mexico (Baja California).

Discussion

Gossypium armourianum is native in restricted areas in Baja California, but naturalized near Palm Springs from an introduction in the 1930s.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.