Flora of New Zealand Series

Evergreen shrubs, usually armed with spines; stems usually rigid and spreading, sometimes sprawling, sometimes tomentose when young. Lvs alternate and spaced on young vegetative shoots, otherwise in fascicles along older stems, simple, usually serrate or crenulate, sometimes entire, ± coriaceous; stipules minute, deciduous. Infl. a compound, often ± flattened corymb. Fls 5-merous, ⚥, pedicellate, moderately small. Hypanthium tubular, closed at apex. Epicalyx 0. Sepals short, connate at base. Petals suborbicular, spreading, white. Stamens 20. Ovary ± inferior; carpels 5, free on ventral side; styles 5; ovules 2 in each locule. Fr. small and pome-like, red, yellow or orange, with mealy flesh and persistent calyx; carpel walls woody; seeds 5.

c. 6-10 spp., S.E. Europe, Asia. Naturalised spp. 3.

Pyracantha is closely related to Cotoneaster and Crataegus and was once incorporated in the latter genus. Several spp. and a number of cvs are widely grown as winter-fruiting ornamentals.