A Redefinition of the Tribe Gossypieae

The tribe Gossypieae (Alefeld, 1861) is resurrected and redefined to include eight genera: Gossypium L., Cienfuegosia Cav., Thespesia Sol. ex Corr., Hampea Schlecht., Kokia Lewt., Cephalohibiscus Ulbr., Gossypioides Skov. ex Hutch., and Lebronnecia Fosb. It is specifically separated from the tribe Hibisceae, the concept of which is thereby narrowed, and emphasis is placed on embryo structure and the presence of pigment glands in delimiting these tribes. These pigment glands are associated with the capacity to synthesize the sesquiterpene-like pigment, gossypol. The Gossypieae appear to be unique in possessing these glands and this capacity. Other distinguishing features of the tribe are noted. The tribe is excluded from the Bombacaceae and provisionally retained in the Malvaceae. The problems of delimiting these two families are discussed.