The Silver and Red of Sunlit Cliffs

Habit: Woody shrub up to 2 m tall. Branches: Young shoots densely tomentose, becoming glabrous and reddish-violet with age. Leaves: Elliptic blades with 3–4 veins per side and an entirely smooth margin; the upper surface is dark green and glossy, the lower covered by dense white tomentum. Flowers: Arranged in corymbose cymes bearing 3–5 flowers, with 1–3 bracts; petals white and spatulate. Fruits: Subglobose pomes 6–8 mm wide, bright red at maturity. Flowering: May–July.

Chorological type: Eurasian orophyte. Distribution in Italy: Very common in the Alps, rarer along the Apennines, reaching its southern limit in the Pollino massif. Habitat: Sunny limestone cliffs, rocky slopes and open woodland margins between 600 and 1500 m.

Generic name (Cotoneaster): From Greek kydonea (quince) and Latin aster (similar to), indicating resemblance to quince. Specific name (integerrimus): Meaning completely entire, referring to smooth leaf margins.