Abstract: Cotoneaster conspicuus Messel is an ornamental plant with outstanding value for decoration. Based on the species which is distributed in China to Himalayan and with comparable stable characters in the apomictic genus, names of one series (Series Conspicui Klotz), 5 species with 7 specific epithets ( C. conspicuus Messel; C. conspicuus Comber; C. conspicuus Marquand; C. conspicuus Marquand ex Klotz; C.decora hort.ex Rehd; C.nanus (Klotz) Klotz; C.permutatus Klotz; C.plurifloms (Klotz) and three names of varieties ( C. microphyllus var. conspicuus Messel; C. conspicuus var. decora Russell; C. conspicuus var. nanus Klotz) have been validly published since establishment in 1930's. This is a typical example with nominal confusion because of using over loaded detail characters in taxonomic treatment of the apomict population. On the basis of specimen observations of 33 numbers and 63 duplicates which are pre-served in PE and KUN, 7 numbers and 9 duplicates of type specimens which are loaned from BM, K & A, and observation of mang living plants cultivated while considering the cytological evidence, a taxonomic revi-sion of this species was carried out. All above names were reduced as synonyms of Cotoneaster conspicuus Messel as result.

Key words: Rosaceae, Cotoneaster, C.conspicuus, Taxonimic revision