Cotton Fiber

There are 4 cotton varieties separated into old and new world classifications. All cotton seed naturally contains the toxic chemical, gossypol, making it less susceptible to insects and fungal damage.

Old World

Gossypium arboreum (Tree cotton) native to India and Pakistan. Seeds are available from Buy Rare Seeds for $6.95/20 seeds.

Gossypium herbaceum (Levant) native to Southern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Seeds are available from Amazon for $9.95/15 seeds.

The leaves of the Levant cotton plant have medicinal uses for menstrual cramps and irregular bleeding. It is used after birth to expel the placenta and increase lactation. It is also used for GI hemorrhage, diarrhea, nausea, fever and headache.

The seeds are used to produce oil and a protein rich livestock feed. The seeds must be heated for human consumption to destroy the toxic chemical, gossypol that can cause severe growth and development disorders in humans and monogastric animals. Gossypol has a potential use as a male contraceptive, but can cause irreversible infertility after repeated use. It was able to stop early pregnancies in lab rats and has the potential as an abortifacient in humans.

New World

Gossypium hirsutum (Upland or King) cotton is native to Central America, Mexico and southern Florida. It can be long or short staple and continues to comprise 95% of US cotton production. Seeds are available from Amazon for $1.97/15 seeds.

This species shows extrafloral nectar production. The seed and roots have been used to treat nasal polyps, fibroids and other types of cancer.

Gossypium barbadense (Extra Long Staple cotton) is called Real Alto and is native to South America. It was domesticated on the coasts of Ecuador and Peru around 4400 BC. It was discovered by Christopher Columbus. It came to be known as Sea Island cotton after Englishman Francis Levett cultivated it on the islands of South Carolina and Georgia. It was renamed Pima in honor of the Pima Indians who helped the USDA raise it on experimental farms in Arizona during the early 1900s. It requires full sun, high humidity and rainfall. Seeds are available from Amazon for $12.00/20 seeds.

Egyptian (ELS Gizas) Cotton is Gossypium barbadense that is grown only in the hot, dry climate of the Nile River valley.  It is only gathered by hand and only about 7% of the market is authentic. It is also grown in India as Suvin and China as Xinjiang.

Egyptian cotton is primarily used to produce bed linen.

120-180 Thread Count is most suitable for rentals and basic domestic use, the type often found in hospitals, and certainly good for a spare room and where the usage calls for material of a more basic nature.

200 Thread Count is a very cool and light percale cotton, mostly used in summer. Found in many hotels, this product is ideal for contract or domestic usage where the requirement is for cool crisp bed linen within a certain budget.

400 Thread Count is the best selling product. A soft yet more substantial product, it's favored for its cool feel and durability with a universal appeal. Expect to find it on beds of major hotel chains worldwide.

600 Thread Count is made possible by the use of compressed air technology during the weaving process. It is a beautiful lustrous, uniform, soft and very smooth fabric. It is the best selling luxury cotton. 

800-1,000 Thread Count has an even greater lustre and is a fuller fabric. It is a robust yet silky weave that will last for many years.

Cotton isn't always white. Naturally colored cotton comes in shades of rust red, green, brown and tan. The best part is that the colors don't fade. Southern Exposure offers 6 varieties for $4.80/20 seeds. Pink, blue and violet varieties are currently being cultivated in Guatemala, but are not yet available.