Cotoneaster

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Cotoneaster
File:Cotoneaster frigidus.jpg
Cotoneaster frigidus foliage and fruit
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Subfamily: Amygdaloideae
Tribe: Maleae
Subtribe: Malinae
Genus: Cotoneaster
Medik.
Species

See text

Cotoneaster /kəˈtoʊniːˈæstər/[1] is a genus of flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, native to the Palaearctic region (temperate Asia, Europe, north Africa), with a strong concentration of diversity in the genus in the mountains of southwestern China and the Himalayas.[2] They are related to hawthorns (Crataegus), firethorns (Pyracantha), photinias (Photinia), and rowans (Sorbus).

Depending on the species definition used, between 70 and 300 different species of Cotoneaster are described, with many apomictic microspecies treated as species by some authors, but only as varieties by others.[2][3]

The majority of species are shrubs from 0.5–5 m (1.6–16.4 ft) tall, varying from ground-hugging prostrate plants to erect shrubs; a few, notably C. frigidus, are small trees up to 15 m (49 ft) tall and 75 cm (30 in) trunk diameter. The prostrate species are mostly alpine plants growing at high altitudes (e.g. C. integrifolius, which grows at 3,000–4,000 m (9,800–13,100 ft) in the Himalayas), while the larger species occur in scrub and woodland gaps at lower altitudes.[citation needed]

Description

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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.[citation needed]

Flowers are produced from late spring to early summer, either solitarily or in corymbs of up to 100 flowers. The flower is either fully open or has its five petals partially open, with a diameter of approximately 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) meters. 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 measuring approximately 5–12 mm (0.20–0.47 in) in diameter, and it can be pink or bright red, orange or even maroon or black when mature, containing one to three (rarely up to five) seeds.[3][4] Fruit on some species stays on until the following year.[citation needed]

Wildlife value

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Cotoneaster species are used as larval food plants by some Lepidoptera species including grey dagger, mottled umber, short-cloaked moth, winter moth, and hawthorn moth. The flowers attract bees and butterflies and the fruits are eaten by birds.[citation needed]

Although only a single species is native there, in the UK and Ireland, Cotoneaster species are, along with the related genus Pyracantha, a source of nectar. The red berries are also highly attractive to blackbirds and other thrushes.[citation needed]

Cultivation and uses

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Cotoneasters are very popular garden shrubs, grown for their attractive habit and decorative fruit. Some cultivars are of known parentage, such as the very popular Cotoneaster × watereri Exell (Waterer's cotoneaster; C. frigidus × C. salicifolius), while others are of mixed or unknown heritage.[4]

The following species and cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:-

Invasiveness

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Many species have escaped from cultivation and become invasive weeds in regions with suitable climatic conditions, such as numerous Chinese species naturalised in north-western Europe.[16] C. glaucophyllus has become an invasive weed in Australia[17] and California.[18] C. simonsii is listed on the New Zealand National Pest Plant Accord preventing its sale and distribution due to its invasive nature. On Portland, Dorset, UK, it has become invasive and is regularly managed to protect the local environment along the Jurassic Coast.

Nomenclature and classification

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The genus name Cotoneaster derives from cotoneum, a Latin name for the quince, and the suffix -aster, 'resembling'. The name is correctly masculine, though in some older works it was wrongly treated as feminine, resulting in different name endings for many of the species (e.g.Cotoneaster integerrima instead of Cotoneaster integerrimus).[3]

The genus is often divided into two or more sections, though the situation is complicated by hybridisation:[3]

  • Cotoneaster sect. Cotoneaster (syn. sect. Orthopetalum). Flowers solitary or up to 6 together; petals forward-pointing, often tinged pink. Mostly smaller shrubs.
  • Cotoneaster sect. Chaenopetalum. Flowers more than 20 together in corymbs; petals opening flat, creamy white. Mostly larger shrubs.

Edibility

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Similar to other small, red berries, all cotoneaster berries are eaten by various bird species which disperse the seeds widely and are not suitable for humans to eat. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia lists Cotoneaster berries as poisonous[19]

Selected species

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Sources:[2][4][16][21][22][23]

References

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  1. ^ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607 Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ a b c Flora of China: Cotoneaster (includes most of the world's Cotoneaster species) www.efloras.org
  3. ^ a b c d Bean, W. J. (1976). Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles 8th edition. John Murray Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..
  4. ^ a b c Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..
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  16. ^ a b Flora of NW Europe: Cotoneaster species list Archived 2009-06-11 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ Weeds Australia – Weed Identification – Cotoneaster www.weeds.org.au Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ Cal-IPC: Invasive Plants of California's Wildlands. www.cal-ipc.org
  19. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  20. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  21. ^ Flora of Nepal: Cotoneaster www.efloras.org
  22. ^ Flora Europaea: Cotoneaster rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk
  23. ^ Den virtuella floran: Cotoneaster linnaeus.nrm.se(in Swedish)
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  • Error creating thumbnail: File missing Media related to Lua error in Module:Commons_link at line 62: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). at Wikimedia Commons
  • File:Wikispecies-logo.svg Data related to Cotoneaster at Wikispecies
  • Multi-access key to the 26 Cotoneaster species found in New Zealand

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