Pear

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

For other uses, see Pear (disambiguation).

Pear
European Pear branch with fruit
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Rosales Family: Rosaceae Subfamily: Maloideae Genus: Pyrus L.
Species
About 30 species; see text

Pears are trees of the genus Pyrus and the juicy fruit of that tree, edible in some species. The English word pear is probably from Common West Germanic *pera, probably a loanword of Vulgar Latin pira, the plural of pirum, which is itself of unknown origin. See also Peorð. The place name Perry can indicate the historical presence of pear trees.

[edit] Botany

Callery Pears in flower

Pears are native to temperate regions of the Old World, from western Europe and north Africa east right across Asia. They are medium sized trees, reaching 10-17 m tall, often with a tall, narrow crown; a few species are shrubby. The leaves are alternately arranged, simple, 2-12 cm long, glossy green on some species, densely silvery-hairy in some others; leaf shape varies from broad oval to narrow lanceolate. Most pears are deciduous, but one or two species in southeast Asia are evergreen. Most are cold-hardy, withstanding temperatures between −25 °C and −40 °C in winter, except for the evergreen species, which only tolerate temperatures down to about −15 °C.

The flowers are white, rarely tinted yellow or pink, 2-4 cm diameter, and have five petals. Like that of the related apple, the pear fruit is a pome, in most wild species 1-4 cm diameter, but in some cultivated forms up to 18 cm long and 8 cm broad; the shape varies from globose in most species, to the classic 'pear-shape' of the European Pear with an elongated basal portion and a bulbous end.

There are about 30 species of pears.

Selected species

[edit] Uses

Two ripe Nashi Pears, one partly eaten.

Pear trees are used as food plants by the larvae of a number of Lepidoptera species - see list of Lepidoptera which feed on Pear trees.

Only three species are important for edible fruit production, the European Pear Pyrus communis cultivated mainly in Europe and North America, the Ya Pear Pyrus bretschneideri, and the Nashi Pear Pyrus pyrifolia (also known as Asian Pear or Apple Pear), both grown mainly in eastern Asia. There are thousands of cultivars of these three species.

Other species are used as rootstocks for European and Asian pears and as ornamental trees. The Siberian Pear, Pyrus ussuriensis (which produces unpalatable fruit) has been crossed with Pyrus communis to breed hardier pear cultivars. The Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford') in particular has become widespread in North America and is used only for decoration. The Willow-leafed Pear (Pyrus salicifolia) is grown for its attractive slender, densely silvery-hairy leaves.

Pears are consumed fresh, canned, as juice, and occasionally dried. The juice can also be used in jellies and jams, usually in combination with other fruits or berries. Fermented pear juice is called perry.

Pear wood is one of the preferred materials in the manufacture of high-quality woodwind instruments and furniture. It is also used for wood carving, and as a firewood to produce aromatic smoke for smoking meat or tobacco.

[edit] External links

• USA Pears - descriptions of pear cultivars from a U.S. advocacy group.
• Cooking For Engineers - Kitchen Notes on Pears

- University of Georgia Pear Page - History of cultivation and commerce.

Various pears

Pear tree flowers