Gossypium darwinii (Darwin’s Cotton)

Native only to the Galápagos Islands, this branching shrub or small tree grows in the dry zone. Reddish stems carry hand-shaped leaves divided into broad lobes. Large yellow flowers have dark red patches near their centers and can appear throughout the year. The flowers are surrounded by deeply cut green bracts. Pointed seed capsules contain seeds with cottony fibers. The flowers attract the native Galápagos carpenter bee. This fast-growing shrub can regrow vigorously from its rootstock after pruning. Photographed in Colombia.