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necklace cotoneaster, winter-green cotoneaster

dark cotoneaster, dark-fruit cotoneaster

Habit Shrubs, 0.5–1[–2.5] m. Stems weakly ascending or mound-forming [prostrate]; branches spiraled or distichous, dense, maroon, initially strigose. Shrubs, 2–2.5 m. Stems loosely erect; branches spiraled, yellow brown to red brown, lenticellate, shiny, initially densely pilose.
Leaves

persistent;

petiole 1–3 mm, pilose-strigose;

blade elliptic to narrowly elliptic, rarely lanceolate, 6–12(–20) x 2–6(–8) mm, subcoriaceous or coriaceous, base cuneate, margins revolute, veins 3–5, superficial, apex obtuse or acute, abaxial surfaces grayish green, reticulate, initially pilose-strigose, adaxial grayish green [rarely green], dull to slightly shiny, coating not recorded, slightly rugose, sparsely pilose or glabrous.

deciduous;

petiole 4–7 mm, tomentose-villous;

blade elliptic to ovate, 33–45 × 20–32 mm, chartaceous, base rounded, margins flat, veins 5–7, superficial, apex acute or obtuse, abaxial surfaces densely silvery-pilose-villous, adaxial green to dark green, dull to slightly shiny, not glaucous, flat between lateral veins, rugose, sparsely pilose;

fall leaves lacking notable color.

Inflorescences

on fertile shoots 8–12 mm with 3 or 4 leaves, 1-flowered, 2–4-flowered on shoot tips.

on fertile shoots 25–30 mm with 3 or 4 leaves, 5–13-flowered, pendent, lax.

Pedicels

1–3 mm, pilose-strigose.

3–8 mm, sometimes sparsely villous.

Flowers

9–13 mm diam.;

buds pink;

hypanthium cupulate, pilose-strigose;

sepals: margins villous, borders mostly reddish, membranous, apex acute or obtuse, surfaces pilose-strigose;

petals spreading, white;

stamens 17–21, filaments white, anthers purple-black;

styles 2(or 3).

erect, 6–7 mm, open;

hypanthium cupulate, dark reddish brown, glabrous;

sepals: margins erose, apex acute or obtuse, surfaces glabrous, often apically villous;

petals erect, greenish white with pink, red, base slightly darkened, margins white, glabrous;

stamens 20(–22), filaments white, anthers white;

styles 2–4.

Pomes

orange-red to red, depressed-globose, 8–10 × 9–11 mm, shiny, not glaucous, glabrous;

sepals suberect, pilose;

navel not recorded;

style remnants at elongated apex.

purple-black, obovoid or globose, 7–9 × 7–9 mm, dull, glaucous with blue tinge, glabrous;

sepals suberect, glabrous or apically villous;

navel open;

style remnants 2/3 from base.

Pyrenes

2(or 3).

2–4.

2n

= 34 (Germany).

= 48–52, 68 (Russia).

Cotoneaster conspicuus

Cotoneaster melanocarpus

Phenology Flowering Apr–May; fruiting Oct–May. Flowering Apr–May; fruiting Jul–Aug.
Habitat Brushy edges in urban areas Forested ravines
Elevation 0–50 m (0–200 ft) 300–500 m (1000–1600 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
WA; Asia (China) [Introduced in North America; introduced also in Europe]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
MB; Eurasia (Russia, Ukraine) [Introduced in North America]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

G. Klotz (1963) emended the diagnosis of Cotoneaster conspicuus to recognize erect plants as var. conspicuus and more decumbent plants as var. decorus. This variation in habit is not significant taxonomically and not unusual for an outcrossing diploid, so the emended description by Klotz of the species is superfluous.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Cotoneaster melanocarpus is said to hybridize spontaneously with Sorbus aucuparia in Siberia, forming x\Sorbocotoneaster Pojarkova. The actual Cotoneaster parent is more likely to be a diploid and needs investigation.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 9, p. 457. FNA vol. 9, p. 467.
Parent taxa Rosaceae > subfam. Amygdaloideae > tribe Maleae > Cotoneaster Rosaceae > subfam. Amygdaloideae > tribe Maleae > Cotoneaster
Sibling taxa
C. adpressus, C. atropurpureus, C. cochleatus, C. crispii, C. dammeri, C. dielsianus, C. divaricatus, C. fangianus, C. franchetii, C. frigidus, C. gamblei, C. hjelmqvistii, C. hodjingensis, C. horizontalis, C. integrifolius, C. lacteus, C. lucidus, C. magnificus, C. melanocarpus, C. miniatus, C. monopyrenus, C. nitens, C. pannosus, C. qungbixiensis, C. rehderi, C. salicifolius, C. simonsii, C. sternianus, C. tengyuehensis, C. transens, C. vestitus, C. villosulus, C. ×suecicus
C. adpressus, C. atropurpureus, C. cochleatus, C. conspicuus, C. crispii, C. dammeri, C. dielsianus, C. divaricatus, C. fangianus, C. franchetii, C. frigidus, C. gamblei, C. hjelmqvistii, C. hodjingensis, C. horizontalis, C. integrifolius, C. lacteus, C. lucidus, C. magnificus, C. miniatus, C. monopyrenus, C. nitens, C. pannosus, C. qungbixiensis, C. rehderi, C. salicifolius, C. simonsii, C. sternianus, C. tengyuehensis, C. transens, C. vestitus, C. villosulus, C. ×suecicus
Synonyms C. microphyllus var. conspicuus, C. conspicuus var. decorus, C. conspicuus var. nanus, C. nanus, C. permutatus C. vulgaris var. melanocarpus
Name authority (Messel) Messel: J. Roy. Hort. Soc. 59: 303. (1934) (Ledebour) Loddiges: Fam. Nat. Syn. Monogr. 3: 223. (1847)
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