Galapagos Cotton

  • Galapagos cotton flower © Brian Gratwicke

    Galapagos cotton flower © Brian Gratwicke

  • Galapagos cotton flower © United States Department of Agriculture (Public Domain)

    Galapagos cotton flower © United States Department of Agriculture (Public Domain)

Species Data

Common Name Galapagos cotton
Scientific Name Gossypium darwinii
Spanish Name Algodón de Darwin
Conservation Status

Galapagos Graphics: IUCN Red List Least Concern © Dan Wright

Least concern 

Endemic/Native/Introduced

Endemic 

Size up to 3m tall
Average Lifespan 15-20 years
Predators Introduced livestock
Plant Class Rosids

Species Overview

This widespread plant is found throughout the Galapagos Islands, and despite introduced cows and goats predating on them they have remained abundant on almost all of the Islands. Finches and other small land birds have been known to use the cotton as nesting material.

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