ROSACEAE

ROSE FAMILY

Annual to tree
Leaves simple to pinnately to palmately compound, generally alternate; stipules free to fused, persistent to deciduous
Inflorescence: cyme, raceme, panicle, or flowers solitary
Flower generally bisexual, radial; hypanthium free or fused to ovary, saucer- to funnel-shaped, often with bractlets alternate with sepals; sepals generally 5; petals generally 5, free; stamens (0)5–many, pistils (0)1–many, simple or compound; ovary superior to inferior, styles 1–5
Fruit: achene, follicle, drupe, pome, or blackberry- to raspberry-like
Seeds generally 1–5
Genera in family: 110 genera, ± 3000 species: worldwide, especially temp. Many cultivated for ornamental and fruit, especially Cotoneaster , Fragaria , Malus , Prunus , Pyracantha, Rosa , and Rubus
Reference: [Robertson 1974 J Arnold Arbor 55:303–332,344–401,611–662]
Family description, key to genera by Barbara Ertter and Dieter H. Wilken.

COTONEASTER

Thomas J. Rosatti

Shrub or tree, unarmed
Leaves stipuled, petioled, subevergreen in CA, entire
Inflorescence: flowers solitary or clustered at branch tips
Flower: bractlets on hypanthium 0; sepals persistent; stamens ± 20; ovary inferior, 2–5-chambered, styles 2–5, free
Fruit: pome, drupe-like, ± 6.5 mm in CA; stones 2–5
Species in genus: ± 50 species: e hemisphere; many ornamental
Etymology: (Latin: quince-like, possibly from leaf shape)
Reference: [Gladkova 1968 Bot Zhur 53:1263–1273]

Introduced

C. pannosa Franchet

Shrub 15–37 dm
Leaf 15–40 mm, elliptic to ± ovate, white-tomentose below, dull and ± glabrous above
Flower: petals spreading, white
Fruit red; stones generally 2
Ecology: Disturbed places, mixed-evergreen forest
Elevation: generally < 1000 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, n Central Western California, c Western Transverse Ranges, expected elsewhere
Distribution outside California: native to sw China