球花栒子 qiu hua xun zi

Shrubs deciduous, to 3 m tall. Branchlets grayish brown or blackish brown, terete, initially densely yellow tomentose-villous, gradually glabrescent. Petiole 2–3 mm, yellow tomentose; stipules brown, lanceolate, nearly as long as petioles, sparsely villous; leaf blade ovate-lanceolate to oblong-ovate, 4–5 × 2–2.5 cm, lateral veins 4 or 5 pairs, slightly impressed adaxially, abaxially sparsely yellow tomentose, adaxially glabrous or puberulous, base broadly cuneate to rounded, apex acute, rarely acuminate or ± obtuse. Corymbs 1.5–2.5 cm, 3–11-flowered; rachis and pedicels densely yellow tomentose-villous; bracts linear or linear-lanceolate, 1–3 mm, slightly yellow villous. Pedicel very short, 1–2 mm. Flowers 6–7 mm in diam. Hypanthium campanulate, abaxially yellow villous. Sepals triangular, 1–1.5 × 1.5–2.5 mm, apex acute. Petals erect, white, stained reddish, suborbicular, 3–3.5 mm and ca. as broad, base clawed, apex obtuse. Stamens ca. 20. Ovary yellowish pilose apically; styles 5, free, not exceeding stamens. Fruit bright red, subglobose, ca. 5 mm in diam., pyrenes 5. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Sep–Oct. 2n = 68*.

Slopes, river valleys, sparse forests, open scrub; 2000--2600 m. W Yunnan.

Further study is necessary to determine the identity of Cotoneaster tengyuehensis J. Fryer & B. Hylmö, which might be synonymous with this taxon.