Cotoneaster zabelii var. miniatus Rehder & E. H. Wilson.

Shrubs deciduous, to 2 m tall. Branchlets dark reddish brown, terete, initially densely yellow pubescent, glabrous when old. Petiole 2–4 mm, tomentose; stipules lanceolate, 2–4 mm, pubescent, usually glabrescent at fruiting; leaf blade elliptic to ovate, 1.5–3 × 1–2 cm, abaxially densely yellow or gray tomentose, adaxially sparsely pubescent, base rounded or broadly cuneate, apex obtuse, rarely emarginate. Corymbs pendent, 1.5–3 cm, 3–10-flowered or more; rachis and pedicels tomentose. Pedicel 2–4 mm. Hypanthium campanulate, abaxially tomentose. Sepals triangular, 1–2 × 1.5–2.5 mm, apex slightly obtuse or shortly pointed. Petals erect, pinkish, obovate or suborbicular, 2–3 mm in diam., apex obtuse. Stamens 18–20, shorter than petals. Ovary pilose apically; styles 2, free, not exceeding stamens. Fruit bright red, obovoid to ovoid-globose, 7–8 mm in diam., pyrenes often 2. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Aug–Sep.

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

Calcareous mountain regions, shaded slopes, river valleys, thickets; 800--2500 m. Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi.