Cotoneaster horizontalis Wall Cotoneaster

A very distinctive, tough Cotoneaster from China which has a wide, spreading, sometimes arching, horrizontal growth form with a herringbone branching pattern. It is apomictic and produces masses of flower and fruit. It is one of the most common cotoneasters in Britain and it is widespread in lowland areas of West Glamorgan. It is a tetraploid (2n=68), apomictic species. Cotoneaster horizontalis is listed on Schedule 9 of the UK Wildlife & Countryside Act as an invasive species, meaning it is illegal to plant or cause it to spread in the wild. Along with C. integrifolius it has colonised many areas of limestone grassland around the Gower coastline impacting native vegetation, and control measures have been carried out periodically to reduce its abundance.

Neophyte