Cotoneaster sherriffii Klotz

Specimens examined at A: Cotoneaster schlechtendalii: Nepal: Kolagaon, Barbung Khola, 3353 m, 3 Jun 1952, N. Polunin, V. R. Sykes & L. Williams 1054.

Zhou & Wu (Acta Bot. Yunnan. 21: 160–166. 1999) treated this species as a synonym of Cotoneaster conspicuus.

Although treated as a synonym in the FOC treatment, Cotoneaster ludlowii G. Klotz appears to be a distinct species with larger elliptic or lanceolate-elliptic leaf blades (1.7--3 cm) and larger fruit (9--10.5 mm) in Nepal and Bhutan.

Shrubs semi-evergreen, erect, to 1.5 m tall, with dense, ascending branches. Branchlets grayish brown, initially sparsely accumbent strigose, glabrate, densely gray lenticellate when old. Petiole 1–3 mm, villous; stipules lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, 2–3 mm, membranous, villous; leaf blade dark green adaxially, oblong-obovate, rarely oblanceolate, 6–12 × 4–8 mm, subleathery, abaxially densely yellowish gray appressed villous, adaxially villous, base cuneate, apex obtuse and mucronate. Corymbs erect, 1–2.5 cm, 3–9(–11)-flowered; rachis and pedicels initially villous, glabrescent. Flowers 9–10 mm in diam. Hypanthium campanulate, abaxially ± villous. Sepals triangular, apex acute. Petals spreading, white or tinged pink, suborbicular, 3–4 mm in diam., adaxially puberulous near base, base broadly clawed, apex obtuse. Stamens shorter than petals. Carpels 1 or 2; styles not exceeding stamens. Fruit red, globose, 5–7 mm in diam., glabrous; pyrenes 1 or 2 united into 1. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Sep–Oct. 2n = 68.

Shrubs semievergreen, erect, to 1.5 m tall, with dense, ascending branches. Branchlets grayish brown, initially sparsely accumbent strigose, glabrate, densely gray lenticellate when old. Petiole 1–3 mm, villous; stipules lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, 2–3 mm, membranous, villous; leaf blade dark green adaxially, oblong-obovate, rarely oblanceolate, 6–12 × 4–8 mm, subleathery, abaxially densely yellowish gray appressed villous, adaxially villous, base cuneate, apex obtuse and mucronate. Corymbs erect, 1–2.5 cm, 3–9(–11)-flowered; rachis and pedicels initially villous, glabrescent. Flowers 9–10 mm in diam. Hypanthium campanulate, abaxially ± villous. Sepals triangular, apex acute. Petals white or pinkish, suborbicular, 3–4 mm in diam., adaxially puberulous near base, base broadly clawed, apex obtuse. Stamens shorter than petals. Carpels 1 or 2; styles not exceeding stamens. Fruit red, globose, 5–7 mm in diam., glabrous; pyrenes 1 or 2 united into 1. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Sep–Oct. 2n = 68.

Himalaya (Nepal, Bhutan), S. Tibet.

Himalaya (Nepal, Bhutan), Bhutan, China (W. Sichuan, S. Xizang/Tibet), India, Nepal.

W Sichuan, SE Xizang [Bhutan, Nepal].

3500-4000 m

River valleys, forests, slopes; 3500–4000[–4100] m.

River valleys, forests, slopes; 2700--4100 m.

Cotoneaster schlechtendalii G. Klotz, Wiss. Zeitschr. Mart.Luth. -Univ. Halle, Math.-Nat., xii. (Neue oder Krit.Coton.-Art.) 776. 1963; Type: S. Tibet, Sanga Choling, Charchu, 3150 m, 27 Sep 1936, F. Ludlow & G. Sherriff 2709 (holotype: BM).

Cotoneaster muliensis G. Klotz; C. schlechtendalii G. Klotz.