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

shrub A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...

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

pome In botany, a pome is a type of fruit produced by flowering plants in the subtribe Malinae of the family Rosaceae. Well-known pomes include the apple, pear, and quince. Etymology The word ''pome'' entered English in the late 14th century, and re ...

s 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 An orexigenic, or appetite stimulant, is a drug, hormone, or chemical compound, compound that increases appetite and may induce hyperphagia. This can be a medication or a naturally occurring neuropeptide hormone, such as ghrelin, orexin or neuropep ...

, 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