Dark cotoneaster

Cotoneaster vulgaris Lindley var. melanocarpus Ledebour, Fl. Altaica 2: 219. 1830 (as melanocarpa)

Shrubs, 2–2.5 m. Stems loosely erect; branches spiraled, yellow brown to red brown, ˂lenticellate, shiny˃, initially densely pilose. Leaves deciduous; petiole 4–7 mm, tomentose-villous; blade elliptic to ovate, 33–45 x 20–32 mm, chartaceous, base rounded, margins flat, veins 5–7, superficial, apex acute or obtuse, abaxial surfaces densely silvery-pilose-villous, adaxial green to dark green, dull to slightly shiny, not glaucous, flat between lateral veins, rugose, sparsely pilose; ˂fall leaves lacking notable color˃. Inflorescences on fertile shoots 25–30 mm with 3 or 4 leaves, 5–13-flowered, ˂pendent˃, lax. Pedicels 3–8 mm, sometimes sparsely villous. Flowers ˂erect˃, 6–7 mm, open; hypanthium cupulate, ˂dark reddish brown˃, glabrous; sepals: margins erose, apex acute or obtuse, surfaces glabrous, often apically villous; petals erect, greenish white with pink, red, base slightly darkened, margins white, glabrous; stamens 20(–22), filaments white, anthers white; styles 2–4. Pomes purple-black, obovoid or globose, 7–9 x 7–9 mm, dull, glaucous with blue tinge, glabrous; sepals suberect, glabrous or apically villous; navel open; style remnants 2/3 from base. Pyrenes 2–4. 2n = 48–52, 68 (Russia).

Flowering Apr–May; fruiting Jul–Aug. Forested ravines; 300–500 m; introduced; Man.; Eurasia (Russia, Ukraine).

Cotoneaster melanocarpus is said to hybridize spontaneously with Sorbus aucuparia in Siberia, forming ×Sorbocotoneaster Pojarkova. The actual Cotoneaster parent is more likely to be a diploid and needs investigation.