Plant of the Day: Upland Cotton – Gossypium hirsutum

There were lots of people in the Conservatory this morning, probably because of this weekend’s start of the Winter Flower Show.  The warmth of the Palm Dome and North Garden was nice to feel when the outside temperature is approximately 20 degrees Farenheit.

Dutchman's Pipe

At the entrance of the North Garden, I was sad to see that almost all of the jackfruit and all of the starfruit is gone.  However, I enjoyed seeing the colorful orchids placed throughout the NG. The flower on the Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia spp) was particularly showy.

The cacao pods were still there but did not look like they’ve grown much since I was here two weeks ago.  I pointed them out to numerous visitors who were very excited to see them.  After they mature and fall off the plant, these pods will be composted – the fate of all maturing/dying plant matter from the conservatory. 

Gossypium hirsutum

I always like to look at the cotton plant.  Early this summer, the blooms on this plant were really beautiful.  I am from Louisiana and remember seeing fields of cotton when I was a child, so this plant reminds me of home.

Cotton is a very important plant for our society.  From this plant, we get the materials to make thread and other textile products.  Most interesting, perhaps, are the lesser well-known purposes of this plant.  Cotton seeds can be pressed for oil that is subsequently used in margarine, cooking and soap.  The leftovers from pressing the seeds can be fed to livestock or spread on crops as a fertilize.  Leftover fuzz from the ginning process can be used to make twine, carpet, lacquer and plastics.  The cotton flowers have been consumed as a diretic.  The seeds and roots have been used for medicinal purposes to fight cancer.  There are other uses of the cotton plant that I won’t go into, but if you’re interested, there are a variety of websites and books available with more information.