Malvaceae (Gossypium)

Protocol Information for:

Label_title:
Gossypium (thurberi)

Family Names:

Family Scientific Name:
Malvaceae

Family Common Name:
Mallow Family

Scientific Names:

Genus:
Gossypium

Species:
thurberi

Scientific Classification:

Scientific SubSpecies:

Species Authority:
Todaro

Scientific SubAuthority:

Authors:

Common Synonym:

Genus:

Species:

Synonym Classification:

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Other Information:

Common Name:
Thurber’s Cotton

Species Code:

Ecotype:
Madrean Archipelago

General Distribution:
Commonly found in Sonoran Desert uplands along rocky hillsides and foothills, washes and canyon bottoms up to 5,000 (rarely 7,000) feet in elevation (Kearney and Peebles 1960). Populations often found in disturbed localities such as roadsides. A subspecies of the cotton boll weevil breeds in the desert cotton bolls (Karban and Lowenberg 1992). Research has shown that bolls damaged by these insects can have seeds with higher germination rates than those from unattacked bolls (Karban and Lowenberg 1992).

Known Invasiveness:

Propagation Goal:
Plants

Propagation Method:
Seed

Product Type:
Container (plug)

Stock Type:

Grow Time:

Target Specifications:

Propagation Collection:
Seed collection can occur in late October to early November. Simply hand-pick the bolls that have begun to split open. As described above, it is not necessary to avoid bolls with insect damage, as the seeds may have higher germination rates.

Propagation Processing/Propagule Characteristics:
Break the seeds out of the boll by hand, with a mallet, or by stomping on the bolls in a plastic mixing tub. Sieve the seed from the excess debris (sieve size not recorded). Orthodox storage is assumed. No information available on this species. The MAPP seed facility is currently storing desert cotton seeds in sealed tubs in a refrigerator around 7 degrees Celsius.

Pre-Planting Propagule Treatments:

Growing Area Preparation / Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:

Establishment Phase:
Germination rates have seen to be higher after insect predation due to a partial breakdown of the impenetrable seed coat (Karban and Lowenberg 1992). However, the MAPP seed facility has observed many seeds damaged by insects to the point that they are easily obliterated and appear to have no embryo remaining. Kew Royal Botanical Gardens’ Seed Information Database records 85-100% germination in seeds that were nicked with a scalpel. Karban and Lowenberg (1992) tested and recommend a pretreatment of sandpaper scarification followed by a 24-hour warm water soak. Further germination trials are recommended.

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Active Growth Phase:

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Hardening Phase:

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Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:

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Guidelines for Outplanting / Performance on Typical Sites:

Other Comments:

References:
Karban, Richard, and Gregory Lowenberg. "Feeding by seed bugs and weevils enhances germination of wild Gossypium species." Oecologia 92.2 (1992): 196-200. Kearney, Thomas H., and Robert H. Peebles. Arizona Flora. Berkeley: U of California, 1960. Print. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. (2017) Seed Information Database (SID). Version 7.1. Available from: http://data.kew.org/sid/ (February 2017) Borderlands Restoration Network (2018). BRN Native Plant Materials Program Database. Unpublished Raw Data.

Citation:
Allen-Cantú, Juniper; Claverie, Francesca; McNelis, Perin; Mount, Allegra. 2018. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Gossypium thurberi Todaro Plants Borderlands Restoration Patagonia, Arizona. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/05/19). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.

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