Cotoneaster horizontalis Decaisne var. adpressus (Bois) C. K. Schneider, Ill. Handb. Laubholzk. 1: 745, f. 418 k-m. 419 e1. 1906.

Cotoneaster distichus Lange var. duthieanus C. K. Schneider, Ill. Handb. Laubholzk. 1: 745. 1906; Type: Kumaon "Birch-forest" near Naffi in the Kutti valley, 3660–3965 m, 11 Sep 1884, J. F. Duthie 2874 (Holotype: K).

Cotoneaster duthieanus (C. K. Schneider) G. Klotz, Bull. Bot. Surv. India 5: 211. 1964.

Cotoneaster nitidus Jacques var. duthieanus (C. K. Schneider) T. T. Yü, Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 36: 167. 1974.

Shrubs, deciduous, prostrate, to 30(–100) cm high, irregularly branched; branches divaricate. Branchlets distichous, reddish brown or grayish brown to grayish black, terete, slender, initially strigose, glabrous when old. Petiole 1–2(–4) mm, glabrous or pilose; stipules caducous, subulate; leaf blade dull green adaxially, broadly ovate or obovate, rarely elliptic, 5–25 × 4–18(–20) mm, thinly papery, midvein raised abaxially, impressed adaxially, abaxially sparsely pubescent or glabrous, adaxially glabrous, base cuneate or obtuse, margin undulate, apex obtuse or ± acute and shortly mucronate. Inflorescences 1- or 2(–4)-flowered. Flowers subsessile, 7–8 mm in diam. Hypanthium campanulate, abaxially sparsely pubescent. Sepals ovate-triangular, shorter than petals, apex acute. Petals erect, pink or red, obovate, 4–5 mm and nearly as broad, apex emarginate or obtuse. Stamens ca. 10–15, shorter than petals; anthers white or pink to red. Styles 2, not exceeding stamens. Fruit bright red, subglobose or oblong, 7–9 mm in diam.; nutlets (1 or)2, rarely 3. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Aug–Sep. 2n = 34, 51, 68.

Mixed forests on slopes, rocky places; [1900–]3000–4500 m. China (Gansu, Guizhou, Hubei, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang/Tibet, Yunnan), India (incl. Sikkim), Myanmar, Nepal.

Specimens examined at A: Nepal: Kolagaon, Barbung Khola, 3353 m, 3 Jun 1952, N. Polunin, V. R. Sykes & L. Williams 1055; Cent.: Dhawalagiri Zone, Mustang Distr., Tukuche, 2470 m, 28°42'N. 83°39'E., 25 Aug 1994, M. Mikage, N. Fujii, T. Kajita, et al. 9480205; Cent: Dhawalagiri Zone, Mustang Distr., above Muktinath, 3680 m, 28°48'N. 83°52'E., 20 Aug 1994, M. Mikage, N. Fujii, T. Kajita, et al. 9480197.

stem: posture: prostrate

plant: height: 10-150 cm tall

stem: branchlet: color: black, brown, gray, red

stem: branchlet: indumentum: type: glabrescent, glabrous, strigose

leaf: petiole: length: 1-4 mm

leaf: blade: shape: obovate, ovate

leaf: blade: length: 0.5-2.5 cm long

leaf: blade: width: 0.4-2 cm wide

leaf: blade: length: width ratio: 1.2-1.4

leaf: texture: papery

leaf: blade: abaxial surface: indumentum type: glabrous, pubescent

leaf: blade: adaxial surface: indumentum type: glabrous

leaf: blade: base: cuneate, obtuse

leaf: blade: apex: acute, mucronate, obtuse

inflorescence: type: cyme, fascicled flowers, solitary flowers

petal: color: pink, red

inflorescence: flowers: number: 1-4

petal: posture: erect

hypanthium: indumentum: type: pubescent

stamens: number: 10-15

anthers: color: pink, red, white

fruit: color: bright, red

fruit: shape: globose, oblong

fruit: diam.: 7-9 mm

nutlets: number: 1-3

flowering: May, Jun

fruiting: Aug, Sep

distribution: elevation: 1900-4500 m