Franchet’s cotoneaster

Shrubs, 2–3 m. Stems erect, arching, ˂lax, slender˃; branches distichous, maroon, initially densely pilose-strigose. Leaves persistent, ˂often 30–40 mm apart˃; petiole 2–4 mm, tomentose-pilose; blade ovate or elliptic, 22–58 x 12–29 mm, coriaceous, base cuneate or obtuse, margins flat, veins 4 or 5, sunken, apex acute or acuminate, mucronate, abaxial surfaces silvery-tomentose, adaxial grayish green, slightly shiny, not glaucous, flat, rarely slightly bulging between lateral veins, drying slightly rugose, pilose. Inflorescences on fertile shoots 30–60 mm with 4 leaves, 5–15(–25)-flowered, compact. Pedicels 1–4 mm, densely long-silky hairy. Flowers (5–)7–8(–10) mm, opening small; hypanthium cupulate, densely long-silky hairy; sepals: margins villous, ˂borders purple, glabrous˃, apex cuspidate or acuminate, surfaces silky hairy; petals erect-incurved, pink or red, base dark pink to dark red, margins off-white; stamens 16–21, filaments pink, distally white, anthers pink or purplish pink; styles 2 or 3(or 4). Pomes orange-red, obovoid ˂base rounded˃ or obconic ˂base cuneate, straight-sided˃, 8–12 x 6–9 mm, ˂apex flat˃, shiny, not glaucous, sparsely pilose; sepals flat, ˂often asymmetric with 2 sepals longer than others˃, tomentose; navel slightly open; style remnants 3/4 from base. Pyrenes 2 or 3(or 4). 2n = 68 (Germany).

Flowering May–Jul; fruiting Oct–Apr. Edges, thickets, disturbed forests, flood plains, urban waste ground, mossy ledges, wet prairie remnants; 0–700 m; introduced; B.C.; Calif., Oreg., Wash.; Asia (China); introduced also in Europe, Pacific Islands (New Zealand), Australia.

Reports of Cotoneaster franchetii from Colorado (J. Ells 2006) are here referred to C. lucidus. A few specimens escaped in Washington have red filaments, not pink, but otherwise agree with C. franchetii. Other escapes in Washington suggest the closely related C. wardii W. W. Smith, distinguished by semievergreen habit, longer fertile shoots, more lax and elongate inflorescences, and white anthers. The entire complex needs biosystematic review.