Heteromeles
Credits
Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles
Recommended citation
'Heteromeles' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.
Family
- Rosaceae
Editorial Note
A monotypic genus, the single species treated by Bean under Photinia, in which it is still placed by some taxonomists (POWO 11/4/2025). Tribe Maleae has a complex evolutionary history (discussed in the entry for Weniomeles), and the relationship between Heteromeles, Photinia and Stranvaesia (in particular) is still being debated. Different types of molecular study have offered competing interpretations of Heteromeles’ taxonomic position, placing it either close to Photinia (Zhang et al. 2023), or as a sister clade to Cotoneaster (Wang et al. 2024). Either way, there is no apparent phyletic requirement for it to be sunk into Photinia.
A full account of this genus, and related taxa, will be provided when funds are available. If you would like to sponsor the work please write to editor@treesandshrubsonline.org