Pear (Pyrus communis, Sp. Pl.: 479 (1753))

Family: Rosaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 479 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Pyrus

Vegetable: False

Observations: Europe to N. Iraq

Description

The pear, known scientifically as Pyrus communis, is a deciduous tree that is highly valued for its delicious fruit. This species was first described in “Species Plantarum” in 1753 by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus, frequently abbreviated as “L.”

Native to regions spanning from Europe to Northern Iraq, the pear has been cultivated for thousands of years and is a member of the Rosaceae family, which includes other notable fruit-bearing plants such as apples, cherries, and roses. The pear tree has been appreciated not just for its sweet, flavorful fruit but also for its ornamental value.

Pear trees typically reach heights of 10-17 meters and are characterized by their rounded crown and glossy, dark green leaves. The blossoms are white, occasionally tinged with a bit of pink, and form in clusters, heralding the emergence of the fruit. Pear fruits vary in shape, often teardrop-shaped, and come in colors ranging from green to yellow, with some varieties blushing red or exhibiting russet tones.

The fruit of the pear tree is praised not only for its delectable taste but also for its nutritional benefits. Rich in dietary fiber, vitamin C, and essential antioxidants, pears make for a healthy and refreshing snack. They can be consumed fresh, canned, dried, or as juice, and they are also frequently used in culinary dishes ranging from salads to desserts.

The cultivation of pear trees has spread far beyond their native range, with various countries developing numerous cultivars to suit different climates and tastes. Pear trees thrive in temperate regions and require well-drained soil and adequate sunlight to produce the best fruit.

In summary, Pyrus communis is a significant species within the Rosaceae family, cherished for its edible fruits and wide-ranging uses in both culinary and ornamental landscapes. Its historical cultivation and broad adaptability make it a prominent plant across many regions of the world.

Common Names

Deu: birnbaum, birne, birnenbaum, gartenbirnbaum, kultur-birnbaum, kultur-birne
Eng: common pear, pear, wild pear
Pol: grusza pospolita
Mlt: lanğasa
Lit: paprastoji kriaušė
Fra: poirier, poirier commun, poirier cultivé, poirier sauvage, épine noire
Dan: pære
Ell: achladia
Lav: m
Nld: peer
Ita: pera, pero
Spa: pera, peral
Por: pereira, pereira-comum, pêra, pêra-européia, pêra-manteigosa
Swe: päron, päärynä, päronträd
Fin: päärynä
Nno: pære
Nob: pære
Cym: coed gellyg, coeden ellyg, gellygen
En: Pear, Rostiezer pear, Common pear, Garden pear, European Pear, Peru, Piruçâr, Wild pear, Pear Tree
Af: Peer
Ar: كمثرى
Hy: Տանձենի բարձր
Az: Adi armud
Eu: Madariondo arrunt
Be: Груша звычайная
Bg: Обикновена круша
Ca: Perera europea
Zh: Xi yang li, 西洋梨
Hr: Kruška, Obična kruška
Cs: Hrušeň obecná
Da: Almindelig Pære, Pære
Nl: Gekweekte peer, Peer
Eo: Ordinara piruso
Et: Harilik pirnipuu
Fj: Pear
Fi: Päärynä, Päärynäpuu, Tarhapäärynä, Satopäärynäpuu
Fr: Poirier, Poirier commun, Poirier cultivé, Poirier Sauvage, Épine noire
Gl: Pereira
De: Birnbaum, Birne, Birnenbaum, Gartenbirnbaum, Wildbirne, Kultur-Birnbaum, Kultur-Birne, Garten-Birne, Gemeine Birnbaum
El: Αχλαδιά, Achladia
Hu: Nemes körte
Ga: Piorra fiáin
It: Pera, Pero, Pero comune, Perastro, Pero domestico
Ja: Seiyō-nashi
Ko: Byeongbaenamu, 서양배나무
Lv: M
Lt: Paprastoji kriaušė
Ml: പിറസ് കമ്മ്യൂണിസ്
Mt: Lanğasa
Mn: Европ лийр
No: Pæretre
Nb: Pære
Nn: Pære
Oc: Perièr
Fa: گلابی اروپایی
Pl: Grusza polna, Grusza pospolita
Pt: Pereira, Pereira-comum, Pêra, Pêra-européia, Pêra-manteigosa
Ro: Păr
Ru: Груша обыкновенная
Sc: Pira
Sk: Hruška obyčajná
Es: Pera, Peral, Hruška, Peral europeo, Peral común, Peral cultivado
Sv: Päron, Päärynä, Päronträd
Zh-tw: 西洋梨
Tt: Гади армут
Th: แพร์
Zh-hant: 西洋梨
Tr: Armut
Uk: Груша звичайна
Cy: Coeden Ellyg, Coed Gellyg, Gellygen

Synonyms

• Pyrus communis subsp. sylvestris (Ehrh.)
• Sorbus pyrus (Crantz)
• Pyrus achras subsp. pyraster ((L.) Wallr. ex Rothm.)
• Pyrus communis var. cultrensis ((Godr.) Nyman)
• Pyrus achras var. pyraster ((L.) Soó)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• Corse (native)
• Cyprus (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Italy (native)
• Krym (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• Poland (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• British Columbia (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Delaware (introduced)
• Denmark (introduced)
• East Himalaya (introduced)
• Ecuador (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Free State (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Idaho (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Indiana (introduced)
• Iowa (introduced)
• Ireland (introduced)
• Kansas (introduced)
• Kazakhstan (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Kriti (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Mississippi (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• Montana (introduced)
• New Hampshire (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New Mexico (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• Nova Scotia (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Oklahoma (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Portugal (introduced)
• Rhode I. (introduced)
• South Australia (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• Sweden (introduced)
• Tadzhikistan (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Turkmenistan (introduced)
• Utah (introduced)
• Uzbekistan (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• West Himalaya (introduced)
• West Virginia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Flower

Taken Mar 25, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 25, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 25, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 25, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 28, 2017 by David ZAOUCH (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Aug 4, 2017 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 6, 2017 by Kristína Daňová (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 30, 2018 by Cruz Fer (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 17, 2019 by Kabbaj Salma (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 31, 2020 by Chidouche Chidouche Pierrette (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken May 10, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 10, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 30, 2018 by Cruz Fer (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 30, 2018 by Cruz Fer (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 30, 2018 by Cruz Fer (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Nov 9, 2019 by Vincenzo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 26, 2020 by Ludovic Stroobants (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 24, 2022 by Alda Pereira (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 24, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 10, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jul 12, 2022 by Herman Van Boxem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 15, 2020 by Christ Vrouwe (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 16, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 18, 2022 by Luc Bénéchet (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 10, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Aug 7, 2021 by Giode Tonpino (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 6, 2020 by Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 22, 2022 by Dominik Muczyński (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 30, 2022 by anna866392 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 31, 1854 by Tela Botanica − Herbier PONTARLIER-MARICHAL (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30065762-2)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5362573)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Pyrus communis L.)

Specifications

Growth form: Single Stem

Growth habit: Tree

Growth rate: Rapid

Growth

Ph maximum: 6.7

Ph minimum: 5.2

Light: 6

Atmospheric humidity: 5

Bloom months: [‘apr’, ‘may’]

Soil nutriments: 5