1	"Epicalyx segments entire, linear or ovate, if ovate then < 22 mm long and < 16 mm wide; seeds with hairs < 10 mm long; native species"	2
1	"Epicalyx segments 3–9-lobed, margins 7-15-toothed, ovate and foliaceous, 20–60 mm long, 20–30 mm wide; seeds with woolly with white cotton hairs 20–30 mm long; naturalised species"	5
2	"Leaves and stems glabrous with black raised glands; epicalyx of 3 more or less ovate, foliaceous segments 11–21 mm long, 8–15 mm wide"	"Gossypium sturtianum"
2	"Leaves and stems pubescent or tomentose, black glands absent; epicalyx of 3 linear segments 4–20 mm long, 0.5-2 mm wide"	3
3	"Capsule pubescent with stellate hairs; leaf-blade stellate hairs 0.4–0.5 mm diameter"	"Gossypium australe"
3	"Capsule glabrous, muricate or with black glands, stellate hairs absent; leaf-blade stellate hairs 0.5–1 mm diameter"	4
4	"Capsule densely covered with discrete black glands; seeds with crinkled tightly appressed hairs; capsule with a beak 3-5 mm long"	"Gossypium bickii"
4	"Capsule muricate, black glands absent; seeds with widely spaced straight spreading hairs; capsule with a beak 0.5-1 mm long"	"Gossypium nelsonii"
5	"Epicalyx lobes 3, margins 7–9-toothed; seeds with long wool and persistent short wool; leaf-blades usually 3-lobed to about the middle"	"Gossypium hirsutum"
5	"Epicalyx lobes 5–9, margins 10–15-toothed; seeds with long wool and readily detached short wool; leaf-blades usually 3–5-lobed to below the middle"	"Gossypium barbadense"