Cotoneaster dammeri Schneid.

A prostrate, evergreen shrub, with slender creeping stems keeping close to the ground; young wood downy. Leaves obovate or oval, 3⁄4 to 11⁄4 in. long, 1⁄4 to 5⁄8 in. wide; margins incurved, apex usually rounded, downy on the lower surface when young, ultimately quite glabrous on both sides; stalk 1⁄8 to 1⁄4 in. long; veins in four to six pairs. Flowers solitary, occasionally in pairs, on downy stalks 1⁄4 in. long, pure white, 1⁄3 to 1⁄2 in. diameter; calyx downy, with broad triangular lobes. Fruit coral-red, globose or rather top-shaped, 1⁄4 in. wide with usually five nutlets.

Native of Central China; found by Henry near Ichang, and introduced in 1900 by Wilson from W. Hupeh, where it occurs at 5,000 to 7,000 ft altitude. It is quite hardy, and is very distinct among cotoneasters for its perfectly prostrate habit. Its fruits are brightly coloured, and the plant has proved useful as an evergreen carpet-shrub, also for covering sunny slopes, as it is very vigorous. It occurs wild on heaths and rocky ground.

From the Supplement (Vol. V)

Two recent selections from this species are ‘Streibs Findling’, raised in Germany, which is prostrate, with very small, dark green leaves; and ‘Coral Beauty’, less ground-hugging than C. dammeri in its usual state, with coral-red fruits.