Cotoneaster melanocarpus
Black cotoneaster

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Black cotoneaster (Cotoneaster melanocarpus) is a deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub, usually 1–3 m tall, with small oval leaves, and black berry-like fruits. The genus Cotoneaster is widespread across continental temperate Eurasia, with extensions into north-western Africa, southern India, and Taiwan (Dickoré and Kasperek, 2010). Black cotoneaster occurs on the eastern edges of Central Europe, in southern Sweden, Bornholm (Denmark), Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, and extends through Eastern Europe into Russia (including Siberia), Mongolia, and northern to north-eastern China. Its distribution is scattered and typically concentrated in mountainous regions (Dickoré and Kasperek, 2010). 

Ecologically, the species thrives on rocky slopes, in scrub, and on forest margins under continental climates. It tolerates drought, poor soils, and cold winters. Black cotoneaster is rarely cultivated but also is not considered invasive within Europe (Dickoré and Kasperek, 2010). It remains a localized, mountain-adapted shrub with modest ecological significant but little ornamental importance. 

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ex situ genetic conservation unit+
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Acknowledgements

This distribution map has been developed by the European Commission Joint Research Centre (partly based on the EUFORGEN map) and released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY 4.0)


Caudullo, Giovanni; Welk, Erik; San-Miguel-Ayanz, Jesús (2017). Chorological maps and data for the main European woody species. figshare. Collection. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.2918528

 

The following experts have contributed to the development of the EUFORGEN distribution maps:

Fazia Krouchi (Algeria), Hasmik Ghalachyan (Armenia), Thomas Geburek (Austria), Berthold Heinze (Austria), Rudi Litschauer (Austria), Rudolf Litschauer (Austria), Michael Mengl (Austria), Ferdinand Müller (Austria), Franz Starlinger (Austria), Valida Ali-zade (Azerbaijan), Vahid Djalal Hajiyev (Azerbaijan), Karen Cox (Belgium), Bart De Cuyper (Belgium), Olivier Desteucq (Belgium), Patrick Mertens (Belgium), Jos Van Slycken (Belgium), An Vanden Broeck (Belgium), Kristine Vander Mijnsbrugge (Belgium), Dalibor Ballian (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Alexander H. Alexandrov (Bulgaria), Alexander Delkov (Bulgaria), Ivanova Denitsa Pandeva (Bulgaria), Peter Zhelev Stoyanov (Bulgaria), Joso Gracan (Croatia), Marilena Idzojtic (Croatia), Mladen Ivankovic (Croatia), Željka Ivanović (Croatia), Davorin Kajba (Croatia), Hrvoje Marjanovic (Croatia), Sanja Peric (Croatia), Andreas Christou (Cyprus), Xenophon Hadjikyriacou (Cyprus), Václav Buriánek (Czech Republic), Jan Chládek (Czech Republic), Josef Frýdl (Czech Republic), Petr Novotný (Czech Republic), Martin Slovacek (Czech Republic), Zdenek Špišek (Czech Republic), Karel Vancura (Czech Republic), Ulrik Bräuner (Denmark), Bjerne Ditlevsen (Denmark), Jon Kehlet Hansen (Denmark), Jan Svejgaard Jensen (Denmark), Kalev Jðgiste (Estonia), Tiit Maaten (Estonia), Raul Pihu (Estonia), Ülo Tamm (Estonia), Arvo Tullus (Estonia), Aivo Vares (Estonia), Teijo Nikkanen (Finland), Sanna Paanukoski (Finland), Mari Rusanen (Finland), Pekka Vakkari (Finland), Leena Yrjänä (Finland), Daniel Cambon (France), Eric Collin (France), Alexis Ducousso (France), Bruno Fady (France), François Lefèvre (France), Brigitte Musch (France), Sylvie Oddou-Muratorio (France), Luc E. Pâques (France), Julien Saudubray (France), Marc Villar (France), Vlatko Andonovski (FYR Macedonia), Dragi Pop-Stojanov (FYR Macedonia), Merab Machavariani (Georgia), Irina Tvauri (Georgia), Alexander Urushadze (Georgia), Bernd Degen (Germany), Jochen Kleinschmit (Germany), Armin König (Germany), Armin König (Germany), Volker Schneck (Germany), Richard Stephan (Germany), H. H. Kausch-Blecken Von Schmeling (Germany), Georg von Wühlisch (Germany), Iris Wagner (Germany), Heino Wolf (Germany), Paraskevi Alizoti (Greece), Filippos Aravanopoulos (Greece), Andreas Drouzas (Greece), Despina Paitaridou (Greece), Aristotelis C. Papageorgiou (Greece), Kostas Thanos (Greece), Sándor Bordács (Hungary), Csaba Mátyás (Hungary), László Nagy (Hungary), Thröstur Eysteinsson (Iceland), Adalsteinn Sigurgeirsson (Iceland), Halldór Sverrisson (Iceland), John Fennessy (Ireland), Ellen O'Connor (Ireland), Fulvio Ducci (Italy), Silvia Fineschi (Italy), Bartolomeo Schirone (Italy), Marco Cosimo Simeone (Italy), Giovanni Giuseppe Vendramin (Italy), Lorenzo Vietto (Italy), Janis Birgelis (Latvia), Virgilijus Baliuckas (Lithuania), Kestutis Cesnavicius (Lithuania), Darius Danusevicius (Lithuania), Valmantas Kundrotas (Lithuania), Alfas Pliûra (Lithuania), Darius Raudonius (Lithuania), Robert du Fays (Luxembourg), Myriam Heuertz (Luxembourg), Claude Parini (Luxembourg), Fred Trossen (Luxembourg), Frank Wolter (Luxembourg), Joseph Buhagiar (Malta), Eman Calleja (Malta), Ion Palancean (Moldova), Dragos Postolache (Moldova), Gheorghe Postolache (Moldova), Hassan Sbay (Morocco), Tor Myking (Norway), Tore Skrøppa (Norway), Anna Gugala (Poland), Jan Kowalczyk (Poland), Czeslaw Koziol (Poland), Jan Matras (Poland), Zbigniew Sobierajski (Poland), Maria Helena Almeida (Portugal), Filipe Costa e Silva (Portugal), Luís Reis (Portugal), Maria Carolina Varela (Portugal), Ioan Blada (Romania), Alexandru-Lucian Curtu (Romania), Lucian Dinca (Romania), Georgeta Mihai (Romania), Mihai Olaru (Romania), Gheorghe Parnuta (Romania), Natalia Demidova (Russian Federation), Mikhail V. Pridnya (Russian Federation), Andrey Prokazin (Russian Federation), Srdjan Bojovic (Serbia) , Vasilije Isajev (Serbia), Saša Orlovic (Serbia), Rudolf Bruchánik (Slovakia), Roman Longauer (Slovakia), Ladislav Paule (Slovakia), Gregor Bozič (Slovenia), Robert Brus (Slovenia), Katarina Celič (Slovenia), Hojka Kraigher (Slovenia), Andrej Verlič (Slovenia), Marjana Westergren (Slovenia), Ricardo Alía (Spain), Josefa Fernández-López (Spain), Luis Gil Sanchez (Spain), Pablo Gonzalez Goicoechea (Spain), Santiago C. González-Martínez (Spain), Sonia Martin Albertos (Spain), Eduardo Notivol Paino (Spain), María Arantxa Prada (Spain), Alvaro Soto de Viana (Spain), Lennart Ackzell (Sweden), Jonas Bergquist (Sweden), Sanna Black-Samuelsson (Sweden), Jonas Cedergren (Sweden), Gösta Eriksson (Sweden), Markus Bolliger (Switzerland), Felix Gugerli (Switzerland), Rolf Holderegger (Switzerland), Peter Rotach (Switzerland), Marcus Ulber (Switzerland), Sven M.G. de Vries (The Netherlands), Khouja Mohamed Larbi (Tunisia), Murat Alan (Turkey), Gaye Kandemir (Turkey), Gursel Karagöz (Turkey), Zeki Kaya (Turkey), Hasan Özer (Turkey), Hacer Semerci (Turkey), Ferit Toplu (Turkey), Mykola M. Vedmid (Ukraine), Roman T. Volosyanchuk (Ukraine), Stuart A'Hara (United Kingdom), Joan Cottrell (United Kingdom), Colin Edwards (United Kingdom), Michael Frankis (United Kingdom), Jason Hubert (United Kingdom), Karen Russell (United Kingdom), C.J.A. Samuel (United Kingdom).
 

Genetic diversity and variation 

Very little genetic research has been carried out specifically on black cotoneaster. No published studies directly measure its population-level genetic diversity, demographic history, or within-species structure. Most insights into its genetic background must therefore be inferred from broader research on the genus Cotoneaster.

Genus-wide research reveals two main genetic clusters with distinct species compositions and signs of admixture, suggesting ongoing gene flow and hybridization. These patterns are consistent with the complex evolutionary history of Cotoneaster, which is shaped by hybridization, polyploidy, and apomixis (asexual reproduction in plants where seeds or embryos develop without fertilization) (Meng et al., 2021). Himalayan Cotoneaster populations have been shown to have high levels of polymorphism and heterozygosity, with most genetic variation (≈85%) occurring within species and only moderate differentiation among them. These findings do not cover black cotoneaster specifically but suggest that similar patterns may occur in related species (Javid et al., 2025). 

Gene flow 

Pollination is primarily carried out by bees, flies, and other insects, while seeds are dispersed by birds and sometimes small mammals that eat the fruit. Black cotoneaster can reproduce both sexually and through apomixis, preserving stable lineages while allowing occasional hybridization. 


The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2025.

Interspecific Taxa dynamics 

Black cotoneaster’s identity has been obscured by numerous synonymous names (e.g., Mespilus cotoneaster var. nigraCotoneaster nigerCotoneaster orientalis) (Dickoré and Kasperek, 2010). Black cotoneaster is in a taxonomically complex and difficult-to-categorize genus because of poor morphological distinctiveness, horticultural introductions of unclear provenance, and limited knowledge of natural variation across native ranges (Dickoré and Kasperek, 2010). 

These interspecific taxonomic issues, combined with frequent hybridization and apomixis in the genus, complicate species delimitation, and obscure true patterns of genetic diversity. These processes may maintain or even increase genetic variation through introgression; they also make clear assessments of population-level diversity and evolutionary history for black cotoneaster difficult. Further molecular research is needed. 

 


The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2025.

Threats 

Very little is known about the genetic diversity of black cotoneaster and there is almost no research on its populations, particularly in Europe. Unlike other Cotoneaster species, it does not appear to have attracted scientific or conservation interest. Potential threats to its genetic diversity can be inferred from general patterns in the genus, including hybridization with related species, small and scattered populations, and limited cultivation, which may reduce opportunities for gene flow. species, it does not appear to have attracted scientific or conservation interest. Potential threats to its genetic diversity can be inferred from general patterns in the genus, including hybridization with related species, small and scattered populations, and limited cultivation, which may reduce opportunities for gene flow. 

Management 

Management options include monitoring populations, conserving natural habitats, and preventing loss of mountain and eastern-edge populations, but targeted genetic studies are needed to guide conservation actions (Dickoré and Kasperek, 2010). 

 


The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2025.

Further reading

NA 

References

Dickoré, W.B. and Kasperek, G. 2010. Species of Cotoneaster (RosaceaeMaloideae) indigenous to, naturalising or commonly cultivated in Central Europe. Willdenowia, 40(1): 13–45. https://doi.org/10.3372/wi.40.40102 

Javid, W., Wani, A.A., Lateef, S., and Najar, R.A. 2025. Assessment of genetic diversity and species relationship of genus Cotoneaster in the Kashmir Himalaya. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 72(4): 4861–4877. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-024-02249-z 

Meng, K.K., Chen, S.F., Xu, K.W., Zhou, R.C., Li, M.W., Dhamala, M.K., Liao, W.B., and Fan, Q. 2021. Phylogenomic analyses based on genome-skimming data reveal cyto-nuclear discordance in the evolutionary history of Cotoneaster (Rosaceae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 158: 107083. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107083 

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