Cotoneaster

Cotoneaster sp. Cotoneaster

DESCRIPTION

Evergreen or deciduous shrubs or small trees; some parts hairy, branchlets never spiny. Simple entire leaves with short petioles, stipules present.

FLOWERS AND FRUIT

Five-petalled white or pink flowers are solitary or found in cymose clusters, from late in spring to summer. Clustered, pointed red berry-like fruit 5-8mm wide with 2–5 seeds 4-5mm long. Seed often dispersed by birds or when the plant is dumped as garden waste.

HABITAT AND RANGE

Urban bushland remnants, open woodland, forest margins, riparian areas, roadsides and disturbed sites, mainly in temperate regions in Australia, but extending into southeast Queensland, especially at altitude. There are about 50 species worldwide.