''Cotoneaster nummularius,'' the nummular or coinwort cotoneaster is a species of

cotoneaster ''Cotoneaster'' is a genus of flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, native to the Palaearctic region (temperate Asia, Europe, north Africa), with a strong concentration of diversity in the genus in the mountains of southwestern China an ...

. This woody shrub is native to much of Asia and south eastern Europe.

Description

''Cotoneaster nummularius'' is a mountainous winter deciduous woody shrub covered in alternate dull green rounded to oval-shaped leaves with fuzzy white undersides and blooms in clusters of 3 to 5 with white hermaphrodite flowers. It flowers from April to June; the fruits are red slightly felted pomes that darken to a bluish black color. It grows at altitudes between to .

Distribution

The species is found in Greece, Crete, Lebanon, Syria, Israel / Palestine, Turkey, Cyprus, Iraq, Yemen, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Caucasus, Iran, Turkestan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Gruziya, Caucasus, Pakistan, Northwestern India, China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Uses

''Cotoneaster nummularis'' is used in folk medicine; decoctions made from the fruits is taken orally as an appetite stimulant, stomachic and expectorant.

References

Flora of Armenia Flora of Turkey Flora of Lebanon Flora of Cyprus nummularius Flora of Israel Flora of Palestine (region) {{Maleae-stub