Gossypium herbaceum L.
subsp. africanum (Watt) Vollesen
var. africanum (Watt) Hutch & Ghose

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Gossypium herbaceum subsp. africanum var. africanum

Photo: Bart Wursten
Entrance road to Nkasa Lupale N.P.

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Synonyms:	Gossypium obtusifolium Roxb. ex G. Don var. africanum Watt Gossypium puberulum Klotzsch ex Garcke
Common names:	Wild cotton (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Small shrub mostly up to 1 ·5 m. tall. Leaves up to suborbicular in outline, 6 × 6 cm, 5–7-lobed less than half-way, cordate at the base; lobes usually rounded but occasionally acute; petiole 20–25 mm. long; stipules narrowly linear-lanceolate, up to 15 mm long. Flowers 5–6 cm in diameter, yellow with purple centre. Epicalyx of 3 broadly ovate-cordate bracts, c. 18–20 mm long and wide. Calyx 8–10 mm long. Capsule subglobose, 15–20 mm in diameter, slightly beaked, hairless. Seeds with much floss.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	Woodland, bush and grassland mainly at low altitudes
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.
Botswana distribution:	N,SE
Growth form(s):	Shrub under 2 m.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Monday 26 February 2018
Literature:	Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 83. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 259. As Gossypium herbaceum africanum Exell, A.W. (1961). Malvaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(2) Pages 429 - 430. As Gossypium herbaceum africanum (Includes a picture). Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 280. (Includes a picture). Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 198. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 60. Plowes, D.C.H. & Drummond, R.B. (1990). Wild Flowers of Zimbabwe. Revised edition. Longman, Zimbabwe. No. 69, plate 96 Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 83. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 218.

Other sources of information about Gossypium herbaceum subsp. africanum var. africanum:

Our websites:

Flora of Caprivi: Gossypium herbaceum subsp. africanum var. africanum
Flora of Mozambique: Gossypium herbaceum subsp. africanum var. africanum
Flora of Zimbabwe: Gossypium herbaceum subsp. africanum var. africanum

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Gossypium herbaceum
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Gossypium herbaceum
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Gossypium herbaceum
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Gossypium herbaceum
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Gossypium herbaceum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Gossypium herbaceum
JSTOR Plant Science: Gossypium herbaceum
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Gossypium herbaceum
Plants of the World Online: Gossypium herbaceum
Tropicos: Gossypium herbaceum
Wikipedia: Gossypium herbaceum