Cotoneaster bullatus

Cotoneaster bullatus, the hollyberry cotoneaster, is a species of shrub in the genus Cotoneaster within the rose family. Its natural range is in Western China (provinces of Hubei, Sichuan, Xizang, and Yunnan), where it is found in a range of woodland and shrub biotopes from 900 to 3200 m above sea level.

Cotoneaster bullatus
Hollyberry cotoneaster - Cotoneaster bullatus foliage and fruit
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Cotoneaster
Species:
C. bullatus
Binomial name
Cotoneaster bullatus

The plant was introduced into cultivation 1898,[1] and is widely naturalised in Europe,[2] New Zealand[3] and possibly British Columbia[4] in North America (although this is now considered to be the closely related C. rehderi,[5] which was formerly treated as a variety of this species, C. bullatus var macrophylla).

Description
Illustration of Cotoneaster bullatus var. floribundus
Twig with leaves and ripe fruit
Leaves and fruit

Vegetative features

Hollyberry cotoneaster is an arching deciduous shrub, which grows to heights of 3–4 metres. Branches are terete with grey bark, and alternate leaves. Twigs are initially hairy, but lose the hairs to become glabrous at maturity.

The simple leaves have a short petiole (4–6 mm), which is usually hairless, and an oblong-ovate blade, usually 35–70 mm long and 20–40 mm wide. The upper leaf surface is dark green, wrinkled and blistered (bullate, glabrous or finely hairy; the underside is grey-green, finely hairy, especially along the secondary veins. Leaves have lanceolate stipules, 3–5 mm long, which fall soon after the leaves open.[6]

Flowers and fruit

Flowers are grouped in corymbose inflorescence about 30–50 mm across, containing from 12-30 white flowers. The flowers themselves have 5 petals and 5 sepals, and are 7–8 mm in diameter.[6] They have from 20-22 stamens and 4-5 free styles. Flowering time in the Northern Hemisphere is from May–July.[6]

The globose fruits mature in August. They are 6–8 mm in diameter, red and contain 4 or 5 pyrenes.

Bibliography
  • Gines López González (2006). Los árboles y arbustos de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares: especies silvestres y las principales cultivadas. Mundi-Prensa Libros. p. 784. ISBN 978-84-8476-272-0.
  • "Cotoneaster bullatus (Hollyberry Cotoneaster)". Retrieved 2015-12-04.
  • Zhi-Yun Zhang; Hongda Zhang; Peter K. Endress. Flora of China. 9. p. 99. ISBN 1930723148.
  • Andreas Roloff; Andreas Bärtels (2008). Flora der Gehölze. Stuttgart (Hohenheim): Ulmer. p. 228. ISBN 978-3-8001-5614-6.
  • "Cotoneaster bullatus". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
  • Jeanette Fryer; Bertil Hylmö (2009). Cotoneasters: A Comprehensive Guide to Shrubs for Flowers, Fruit, and Foliage. Timber Press. ISBN 978-0-88192-927-0.
  • "Cotoneaster bullatus Bois". GBIF. Retrieved 2015-12-04.

References
  1. On-line Atlas of the British and Irish Flora
  2. On-line Atlas of the British and Irish Flora, González (2006), Roloff (2008)
  3. "Plant distribution data". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network.
  4. #GBIF
  5. "Flora of North America". eFloras.
  6. Flora of China
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