Creeping cotoneaster

Shrubs, ˂mound-forming˃, to 0.3 m. Stems ˂divaricate˃, prostrate to procumbent, ˂rooting, to 0.8 m long, stiff˃; branches distichous, maroon, initially strigose-villous. Leaves deciduous; petiole 1–2 mm, glabrescent; blade elliptic or ovate, rarely suborbiculate, 8–15 x 5–12 mm, chartaceous, base rounded, margins slightly undulate, not revolute, veins 2 or 3, superficial, apex acute or obtuse, abaxial surfaces green, glabrate, ˂midrib strigose˃, adaxial green, dull to slightly shiny, not glaucous, flat between lateral veins, glabrous. Inflorescences on fertile shoots 6–10 mm with 2 or 3 leaves, 1(or 2)-flowered, ˂subsessile˃. Pedicels 0–1.5 mm, glabrate. Flowers 4–7 mm; hypanthium funnelform, ˂maroon˃, glabrate; sepals ˂sometimes recurved˃, margins villous, apex lingulate or acute, surfaces glabrous; petals erect, dark red; stamens 10(–13), filaments pink to red, anthers white; styles 2(or 3). Pomes bright red, broadly obovoid to globose, 6–7 mm, shiny, not glaucous, ˂succulent˃, glabrous; sepals suberect, glabrous; navel open; style remnants 4/5 from base. Pyrenes 2(or 3). 2n = 34 (Sweden).

Flowering Apr–May; fruiting Sep. Disturbed ground, gravel pits; 0–400 m; introduced; Mich.; Asia (China); introduced also in Europe.