Mespilus racemiflorus Desfontaines, Cat. Pl. Horti Paris, ed. 3. 409. 1829.

Cotoneaster inexpectatus G. Klotz, Wiss. Zeitschr. Friedrich-Schiller-Univ. Jena, Mat. Naturwiss. (Beitr. Phytotax., 3), 27(1): 23 (1978), as “inexspectatus;” Type: Nepal: Dunai (28°55'N. 82°55'E.), 2100 m, 26 Apr 1974, J. F. Dobremez 2787 (Holotype: BM).

Cotoneaster tibeticus G. Klotz, Wiss. Zeitschr. Friedrich -Schiller-Univ. Jena, Mat. Naturwiss. (Beitr. Phytotax., 1), 17(3): 334. 1968; Type: S. Tibet, Lhasa, 3540 m, 1 Jun 1942, F. Ludlow & G. Sherriff 8626 (Holotype: BM, isotype: E).

Shrubs, deciduous, (0.3–)1–2.5 m tall, with spreading or ascending, arched branches. Branchlets spiralled, grayish brown or reddish brown, terete, slender, initially densely gray tomentose, glabrous when old. Petiole (1.4–)2–5 mm, tomentose; leaf blade dull olive-green adaxially, oblong or ovate to elliptic, rarely obovate, (1–)1.5–5 × (0.5–)1–2 cm, papery, veins raised abaxially and slightly impressed adaxially, abaxially white tomentose, adaxially glabrous or slightly pilose, base rounded or broadly cuneate, apex obtuse and mucronate, often emarginate, sometimes acute or shortly acuminate. Corymbs (0.5–)1.5–2 cm, (3–)5–9(–20)-flowered; rachis and pedicels white tomentose. Pedicel 2–3 mm. Flowers 8–9 mm in diam. Hypanthium campanulate or turbinate, abaxially white tomentose. Sepals broadly triangular, 1–2 mm, subglabrous or glabrous, apex acute. Petals spreading, white, suborbicular or ovate to obovate, 2.5–3.5 × 2–3 mm, adaxially white puberulous near base, apex obtuse, rarely emarginate. Stamens 18–20, slightly shorter than petals; anthers yellow, white, or purple. Styles 2, not exceeding stamens. Fruit red to bright red, broadly ellipsoid to subglobose or pyriform, (5–)8–10 mm; nutlets (1 or)2. Fl. (Apr–)May–Jun, fr. Jul–Sep(–Oct).

Shrub thickets on dry, stony slopes, forests, forest margins, river and mountain valleys; [1400–]2700–4000 m. Afghanistan, Bhutan, China (Gansu, Hebei, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang/Tibet, Yunnan), India, Kashmir, Nepal, Turkmenistan; N. Africa, S.W. Asia (N. Iran, Syria).

Specimens examined at A: Nepal: Kolagaon, Barbung Khola, 3353 m, 3 Jun 1952, N. Polunin, V. R. Sykes & L. Williams 1053; Nepal: Uthu, Chandhabise Dara, 2286 m, 11 May 1952, N. Polunin, V. R. Sykes & L. Williams 937; Cent: Nepal: Dhawalagiri Zone, Mustang Distr., 3340 m, 28°49'N. 83°51'E., 21 Aug 1994, S. Noshiro, N. Fujii, T. Kajita, K. Yoda 9480198.

Further research is needed on the distributional range of this taxon.

stem: posture: erect

plant: height: 30-250 cm tall

stem: branchlet: color: brown, gray, red

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

leaf: petiole: length: 1.4-5 mm

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

leaf: blade: length: 1-5 cm long

leaf: blade: width: 0.5-2 cm wide

leaf: blade: length: width ratio: 2-2.5

leaf: texture: papery

leaf: blade: abaxial surface: indumentum type: tomentose

leaf: blade: adaxial surface: indumentum type: glabrous, pilose

leaf: blade: base: cuneate, rounded

leaf: blade: apex: acuminate, acute, emarginate, mucronate, obtuse

inflorescence: type: corymb

petal: color: white

inflorescence: flowers: number: 3-20

petal: posture: spreading

pedicel: length: 2-3 mm

hypanthium: indumentum: type: tomentose

stamens: number: 18-20

anthers: color: purple, white, yellow

fruit: color: bright, red

fruit: shape: ellipsoid, globose, pyriform

nutlets: number: 1-2

flowering: Apr, May, Jun

fruiting: Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

distribution: elevation: 1400-4000 m