Cotoneaster gamblei G. Klotz, Wiss. Zeitschr. Mart.-Luth. Univ. Halle, Math.-Nat. 15: 530. 1966; Type: Bhutan, Shabjetang, Bumthang Chu, 9 Jun. 1949, F. Ludlow, G. Sherriff & J. H. Hicks 19083 (Holotype: BM).

Cotoneaster himalaiensis Hortorum ex Zabel, Mitt. Deutsch. Dendrol. Ges. 1897(6): 271. 1897.

Cotoneaster nepalensis Hortorum ex K. Koch, Dendrol. 1: 177. 1869.

Shrubs or small trees, deciduous, to 10 m tall or more, scandent, with spreading branches. Branchlets spiralled, purplish brown or grayish brown, angulate, initially tomentose, glabrescent. Petiole 4–7(–10) mm, tomentose; stipules linear-lanceolate, tomentulose; leaf blade shiny, dark green adaxially, oblong or elliptic to ovate-lanceolate, (3–)3.5–8(–12) × 1.5–3(–6) cm, thickly papery to subleathery, veins raised abaxially and slightly impressed adaxially, abaxially initially tomentose, gradually glabrescent, adaxially glabrous, base cuneate or obtuse, apex acute or obtuse, sometimes mucronate with spiniform point. Compound corymbs dense, 4–6 × 3–5 cm, 20–40-flowered or more; rachis and pedicels densely tomentose; bracts linear-lanceolate. Pedicel 2–4 mm. Flowers 6–7 mm in diam. Hypanthium campanulate or broadly subcylindric, abaxially densely tomentose. Sepals triangular, apex obtuse or acute. Petals spreading, white, broadly ovate or suborbicular, 3–3.5 mm and nearly as broad, glabrous or puberulous adaxially near base, apex obtuse, rarely somewhat emarginate. Stamens 18–20, slightly shorter than petals; anthers pink or red to black. Styles 2, not exceeding stamens. Fruit bright to dark red, ellipsoid or globose to obovoid, 4–5 mm in diam.; nutlets (1 or)2. Fl. Mar–May(–Jun), fr. Sep–Oct(–Nov). 2n = 34.

River valleys, broad-leaved deciduous forests on slopes; (900–)2200–3400 m. Bhutan, China (S.E. Xizang/Tibet), N. India (incl. Sikkim), Nepal.

Specimens examined at A: Nepal: Trisuli River, Sasrusensi, 2438 m, 28°10'N. 85°20'E., 24 May 1962, J. D. A. Stainton 3755; East: Nepal: en route from Lamujo to Chumawa, Solukhumbu Distr., 2450 m, 10 Jun 1978, H. Tabata, K. R. Rajbhandari, Y. Shimizu 10586; Nepal: near Phagure Dhuri, 3353 m, 9 Jul 1954, J. D. A. Stainton, V. R. Sykes & L. Williams 3443; Cent: Gandaki Zone, Manang Distr., 930 m, 28°38'N. 84°28'E., 12 Aug 1994, M. Suzuki, N. Acharya, N. Fujii et al. 9455289; Cent.: Gandaki Zone, Gorkha Distr., Sardu Khola, 2030 m, 28°33'N. 84°39'E., 27 Jul 1994, M. Suzuki, N. Acharya, N. Fujii et al. 9455184.

The dried young shoots are used for making tea.

stem: posture: erect, scandent

plant: height: 50-1000 cm tall

stem: branchlet: color: brown, gray, purple

stem: branchlet: indumentum: type: glabrescent, tomentose

leaf: petiole: length: 4-7 mm

leaf: blade: shape: elliptic, lanceolate, oblong, ovate

leaf: blade: length: 3.5-12 cm long

leaf: blade: width: 1.5-4.5 cm wide

leaf: blade: length: width ratio: 2.3-2.7

leaf: texture: leathery, papery

leaf: blade: abaxial surface: indumentum type: glabrescent, tomentose

leaf: blade: adaxial surface: indumentum type: glabrous

leaf: blade: base: cuneate, obtuse

leaf: blade: apex: acute, mucronate, obtuse, spiniform-pointed

inflorescence: type: compound, corymb

petal: color: white

inflorescence: flowers: number: 20-40

petal: posture: spreading

pedicel: length: 2-4 mm

hypanthium: indumentum: type: tomentose

stamens: number: 18-20

anthers: color: black, pink, red

fruit: color: bright, red

fruit: shape: ellipsoid, globose

fruit: diam.: 4-5 mm

nutlets: number: 2

flowering: Mar, Apr, May, Jun

fruiting: Sep, Oct

distribution: elevation: 900-3400 m