Gossypium tomentosum Gossypium tomentosum, also known as Hawaiian cotton, is endemic to dry and rocky coastal areas of the Hawaiian Islands. This plant is classified as “Rare” by the World Conservation Union, meaning that it is at risk of becoming endangered in the near future. Though Gossypium tomentosum is closely related to the plant used for commercial cotton production, the fibers on its seeds have not actually been used to produce cotton on a large scale. However, Hawaiian cotton has been important for its use in research and breeding programs aimed at producing disease resistance in commercial cotton. |