Pear
Pyrus communis L.
Synonyms - Pirus communis
Order - Rosales
Family - Rosaceae
Names:
Pyrus
Communis
Pear
Summary:
A deciduous tree producing yellow pear shaped fruit.
Description:
Cotyledons:
Two.
Leaves:
Stipules -
Petiole -
Blade -
Stems:
Flower head:
Flowers:
Ovary -
Sepals -
Petals -
Stamens -
Anthers -
Fruit:
Pear shaped, yellow, mottled.
Seeds:
Tear shaped, dark.
Roots:
Key Characters:
Biology:
Life cycle:
Deciduous perennial tree.
Physiology:
Chilling requirement similar to Apples. Some varieties have a low chilling requirement.
More tolerant of hot conditions than Apple but more sensitive to cold injury.
Relatively tolerant to water logging.
Reproduction:
Often cross pollinated.
Flowering times:
Seed Biology and Germination:
Vegetative Propagules:
Cuttings.
Hybrids:
Many commercial varieties including Beurre Bosc, Josephine, Packham's Triumph, Williams Bon Chretien, Winter Nelis, Winter Cole.
Allelopathy:
Population Dynamics and Dispersal:
Spread mainly by intentional planting on grafted stock.
Origin and History:
Europe. Asia. North of Persia.
Distribution:
ACT, NSW, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA.
Courtesy Australia's Virtual Herbarium.
Habitats:
Climate:
Cool to warm temperate. Mediterranean.
Areas with an annual rainfall greater than 760 mm or irrigated areas.
Soil:
Wide range of soils including water logging prone soil types.
Plant Associations:
Significance:
Beneficial:
Fruit.
Pollen.
Detrimental:
Toxicity:
None recorded.
Legislation:
None.
Management and Control:
Thresholds:
Eradication strategies:
Herbicide resistance:
Biological Control:
Important pests include Two Spotted Mite, Codling Moth, Pear Leaf Blister Mite and Oyster Shell Scale.
Diseases include Black Spot and Blossom Blight.
Related plants:
Asian Pear or Nashi (Pyrus pyrifolia)
Apple (Malus domestica)
Plants of similar appearance:
References:
Lazarides, M. and Hince, B. (1993). CSIRO handbook of economic plants of Australia. (CSIRO, Melbourne). #1041.1.
Reid, R.L. (1990) The Manual of Australian Agriculture. (Butterworths, Sydney). P179.
Acknowledgments:
Collated by HerbiGuide. Phone 08 98444064 or www.herbiguide.com.au for more information.