Pear

Common Name

Pear

Kingdom

Plantae

Magnoliophyta

Magnoliopsida

Order

Rosales

Family

Rosaceae

Genus

Pyrus

Species

communis

Native

Coastal and mildly temperate regions of the Old World, from western Europe and north Africa east right across Asia

Characteristics

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.

Distribution

Central Asia, western China,

Climate and weather

temperate climates

Duration

Insect pests

Diseases

Harvesting

Pears should preferably be harvested green, when they are not yet fully ripe. Fruits that get ripe on the tree are grittier inside.

Uses

Eat fresh as hand fruit. Combine in fruits salads. Can be used to make compote (stewed pears).

Symptoms

Fruiting stage and post-harvest. Fruits/pods are infected