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Cotoneaster integrifolius (Roxb.) G. Klotz, Entire-leaved
Cotoneaster

Account Summary

Introduction, neophyte, an occasional and locally frequent garden escape.

1947-53; MCM & D; field by railway at Belcoo.

March to October.

This is the most common and widespread member of a species aggregate of twelve difficult to distinguish forms which are all native of N India, the Himalaya and China (species 21-32 in the New Flora of the BI 1997). Webb's An Irish Flora 1977 mentioned only two Cotoneaster species, C. microphyllus and C. simonsii (no naming authorities are given in this field Flora). However, the most recent edition, An Irish Flora 1996, now lists seven Cotoneasters and the Cat Alien Pl Ir mentions no less than 19. Apparently, almost all specimens previously identified as C. microphyllus Wall. ex Lindl. in B & I actually belong to C. integrifolius and in the Fermanagh Flora Survey they are treated as being virtually synonymous. There is only one station for C. microphyllus listed in the Cat Alien Pl Ir, from Co Dublin (H21), dating from 1932. RHN and the current author (RSF) are unsure which of the other small-leaved cotoneaster species are represented among the Fermanagh records and further work is required if this level of splitting is necessary.

In Fermanagh, this frequently cultivated, evergreen garden species now has stations in a total of 20 tetrads, 3.8% of those in the VC. On Knockninny Hill, where it has become bird-sown and appears to be actively spreading, this very locally occurring sub-shrub is now very well established and persistent. The plant can cover quite large areas of rock outcrop with its low, carpet-like growth. When it is well established and has developed a largish local population, its seedlings may then begin to invade adjacent stony pastures from the original stand or stronghold, as it is doing for example at Rahallan Td, S of Belmore Mountain.

C. integrifolius is more strictly calcicole than other members of the genus and it requires or prefers well-drained soils on sloping ground. Typical local habitats are limestone cliffs, screes, woodland margins, pastures and quite often it appears in quarries. In Fermanagh, it occurs sporadically, principally around the western limestone upland plateau and on widely scattered outlying rock outcrops, including a number of rock quarries. Elsewhere in NI, it is thinly and widely scattered in Cos Antrim (H39) and Londonderry (H40), but it appears much scarcer in the other three VCs in NI.

The New Atlas hectad map shows C. microphyllus agg. is very widely scattered throughout Ireland, with a greater concentration of stations in VCs along the River Shannon and in Connemara. In Britain, it is also spread over a wide range of latitude and shows a definite western tendency.

Fermanagh Occurence

Threats

Potentially this neophyte could become a nuisance if it invaded a nature reserve, but generally, it is too infrequent to pose any real threat to native species.