Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster)
Description
The shoots are dimorphic, with long shoots (10-40 cm (3.9-15.7 in) long) producing structural branch growth, and short shoots (0.5-5 cm (0.20-1.97 in) long) bearing the flowers; this pattern often developing a 'herringbone' form of branching. The leaves are arranged alternately, 0.5-15 cm (0.20-5.91 in) long, ovate to lanceolate in shape, entire; both evergreen and deciduous species occur. The flowers are produced in late spring through early summer, solitary or in corymbs of up to 100 together. The flower is either fully open or has its five petals half open 5-10 mm (0.20-0.39 in) diameter. They may be any shade from white through creamy white to light pink to dark pink to almost red, 10-20 stamens and up to five styles. The fruit is a small pome 5-12 mm (0.20-0.47 in) diameter, pink or bright red, orange or even maroon or black when mature, containing one to three (rarely up to five) seeds. Fruit on some species stays on until the following year.
Taxonomic tree
-
Domain: Eukarya
-
-
Kingdom: Plantae
-
-
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
-
-
Class: Magnoliopsida
-
-
Order: Rosales
-
-
Family: Rosaceae
-
-
Genus: Cotoneaster
-
-
-
-
-
-
