Cotoneaster afghanicus G.Klotz

Niaki, Nemat Allah Raei, Attar, Farideh, Zamani, Asghar, Maroofi, Hossein & Joharchi, Mohammad Reza, 2022, Five new records and two new reports of Cotoneaster Medik. (Rosaceae) for the Flora of Iran, Adansonia (3) 44 (14), pp. 141-152 : 146

Cotoneaster afghanicus G.Klotz

( Fig. 4 )

Wissenschaftliche Zeitschrift der Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Mathematisch-naturwissenschaftliche Reihe, Halle 15: 532 (Klotz 1966).

TYPUS. — Afghanistan. Kuram Valley, XII.1879, J. E. T. Aitchison 363 (holo-, DD ; iso-, A, BM, CAL) .

SPECIMENS EXAMINED. — Iran. Province Khorasan, Bazangan , 37°76’46”N, 56°43’40”E, 1500 m, 06.VI.1996, Faghihnia & Zangooei 27111 ( FUMH); Bazangan, 36°16’44”N, 60°23’38”E, 1480 m, 25.VIII.2009, Joharchi & Arjmandi 43318 ( FUMH); West of Bojnord , Ghorkhod protected region, 37°23’46”N, 56°27’47”E, 1660 m, 20.IX.2011, Memariani & Arjmandi 44626 ( FUMH) .

NOTE

This species is morphologically close to C. persicus Pojark. ( Raei Niaki 2019) The latter is widely distributed in Fars, Isfahan, and Kerman provinces ( Khatamsaz 1992). Leaves of both species are small and ovate with red fruits. However, C. afghanicus differs from C. persicus in its obtuse to rounded apex of leaves (vs acute), base of leaves rounded to obtuse (vs cuneate to narrowly cuneate), and 1-4 flowers per inflorescence (vs 5-8 flowers) ( Fig. 4A, B ). This species occurs in Afghanistan, Kashmir ( Fryer & Hylmö 2009) and Iran.

Figures

FIG. 4. — Cotoneaster afghanicus G.Klotz leaves and fruits outline (A) and close up (B). Collection number: Faghihnia & Zangooei 27111 (FUMH); determined by Raei Niaki & Attar.