Sea Island Cotton

Gossypium barbadense

Basic Information

Family: Malvaceae

Genus: gossypium

Plant ID (slug): gossypium-barbadense

Numeric ID: 25548

USDA Hardiness: 10-12

Ratings

Physical Characteristics

Gossypium barbadense is an evergreen Shrub growing to 3 m (9ft) by 2.5 m (8ft) 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 cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant is not wind tolerant.

Distribution

Western S. America.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Oil Seed Edible Uses: Oil Edible portion: Seeds, Leaves, Oil. Leaves - probably edible[301 ]. Seed - ground into a flour and added to bakery products [301 ]. An oil obtained from the seed is used in salads, canned goods and manufactured into margarine[301 ].

Medicinal Uses

Abortifacient Analgesic Antidiarrhoeal Antipruritic Antiviral Diuretic Emetic Emmenagogue Hypotensive Laxative Pectoral Poultice Skin The root is abortifacient, emetic and emmenagogue[348 ] An infusion of the root bark is used to treat difficult or irregular menstruation[348 ]. The pulverised roots are used to procure an abortion[348 ]. The stem bark is used in a preparation to strengthen the womb[348 ]. The leaves are antipruritic, diuretic and hypotensive[348 ]. Leaves of the red variety of cotton are used for treating high blood pressure; abdominal cramps and pain; menstrual problems; painful ovaries; and difficult expulsion of afterbirth[348 ]. Applied externally, the leaves are macerated in oil to make a poultice that is used to soothe an overheated person[348 ]. An infusion of the leaf juice is used to treat skin rash and children's cramps[348 ]. The juice from macerated leaves is used as wash to treat itchy skin[348 ]. Juice from the macerated leaves is warmed and used as a medicament for 'bush yaws'[348 ]. The flower buds are used as an auricular analgesic[348 ]. The seeds are crushed, and the juice given to babies as a treatment for thrush[348 ]. The seed fibres are laxative and pectoral[348 ]. They are used to treat diarrhoea and thrush[348 ]. Applied externally, they are used to make a dressing on wounds[348 ]. The pressed cotton cake contains gossypol, which is used clinically as a male contraceptive[348 ]. Gossypol is a toxic polyphenolic bisesquiterpene which may have antifertility and antiviral properties[348 ].