Pear

The pear is a close relative of the apple. While most pears have a pear-shape, there are also pears that resemble apples, so it not always easy to distinguish the fruits. A major difference between apples and pears is that the latter have beneath the peal or in the tissue of the fruit clusters of lignified cells (cells with hardened walls) which is knows as the "grit". This is the small rough granules or particles that you taste when eating a pear. On this page you find some more basic information on the common pear, some pear photos, pear proverbs and pear recipes.

Basic information on pear

Scientific name:	Pyrus communis
English:	Pear
English:	European pear
Dutch:	Peer
Dutch:	Gewone peer
Spanish:	Pera
Spanish:	Peral común
French:	Poire
French:	Poirier commun
French:	Poirier
German:	Birne
German:	Kultur-Birne
Italian:	Pero
Italian:	Pera
Sub family:	Maloideae
Family:	Rosaceae
Order:	Rosales
Other pears:	Several Pyrus species are pears. The most common species are: Pyrus communis, Pyrus × bretschneideri, and Pyrus pyrifolia. These species together have many different cultivars.
Origin:
Distribution:
Evergreen or deciduous:	Deciduous (but some evergreen pears exist in Asia)
Flowers:	White flowers, sometimes yellowish or pinkish. Flowers have 5 petals and are 2 to 4 centimeters in diameter.
Leaves:
Fruits:	Fruits can be round like an apple, but usually fruits are pyriform (=pear-shaped), having an elongated part near the base and a more swollen end. Wild pears have small fruits, often less than 4 cm in diameter, but cultivated species can be up to 18 centimeter long with a diameter up to 8 centimeters.
Climate and weather:
Pollination:
Height:	Trees usually will grow 10 to 15 meter in height.
Crown size:	Pear trees have a tall narrow crown.
Blooming period
Type of soil:
Preferred pH:
Moisture:
Light:
Growth rate:
Spacing (close range)	4.5 meter
Spacing (wide range)	9 meter
Canopy:
Propagation:	Seedlings are grown from seeds and later grafted with the desired variety.
Insect pests:
Diseases:
Fruit development:
Harvesting:	Pears should preferably be harvested green, when they are not yet fully ripe. Fruits that get ripe on the tree are more gritty inside.
Uses:	Eat fresh as hand fruit. Combine in fruits salads. Can be used to make compote (stewed pears).

Photos

Pink Floyd's nice pair does not grow on trees.

Proverbs

• A pear tree cannot bear an apple.
• A pear will fall to its root.
• A pear will never fall into a closed mouth.
• A ripe pear is more likely to fall in the shit than onto the clean ground.
• Don't shake the tree when the pears fall off themselves.
• Prickly pear trees don't produce peaches.
• The wild pear has blossomed: the kid goat no longer suffers.
• There are only ten minutes in the life of a pear when it is perfect to eat.
• You can't compare apples with pears.
• When the pear is ripe, it falls.

Quotes

• If you want to know the taste of a pear, you must change the pear by eating it yourself. If you want to know the theory and methods of revolution, you must take part in revolution. All genuine knowledge originates in direct experience. (Mao Tse-Tung)

Recipes

No recipe yet. Please send me your favorite pear recipe.