Cotoneaster gracilis Rehd. & E. H. Wilson

Shrubs deciduous, 1–3 m tall. First year branches glabrous; branchlets brownish red to grayish brown, terete, slender, initially densely tomentose-villous, gradually glabrescent. Petiole 2–3 mm, white tomentose; stipules caducous, subulate, 2–4 mm, membranous, pubescent; leaf blade ovate to oblong-ovate, 2–3.5 × 1–2 cm, lateral veins 3 or 4 pairs, conspicuously raised abaxially and impressed adaxially, abaxially densely white tomentose, adaxially glabrous or puberulous, base rounded, apex obtuse or acute, rarely emarginate. Corymbs (1–)1.5–2.5 cm, 3–7-flowered; rachis and pedicels pilose; bracts linear, 2–3 mm, pilose. Pedicel 3–6 mm. Flowers 6–7 mm in diam. Hypanthium red, campanulate, abaxially glabrous. Sepals triangular-ovate, 1–2 mm, apex obtuse or ± acute. Petals erect, pink, suborbicular, 2.5–3.5 mm in diam., glabrous, shortly clawed. Stamens 20, slightly shorter than petals. Ovary pubescent apically; styles usually 2, free, not exceeding stamens. Fruit red, obovoid, 5–6 mm in diam., puberulous, pyrenes usually 2. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Aug–Sep.

Gansu, Henan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Sichuan.

Mountain regions, slopes, river banks, thickets; 1000--3000 m.