PYRUS 295 



Native of Himalaya ; introduced to Kew in 1849 by Sir Joseph Hooker, 

 who found it in the interior of Sikkim up to elevations of 10,000 ft. It is 

 strange that so distinct and striking a tree has not spread more in cultivation. 

 The original tree, introduced more than sixty years ago, is still at Kew a 

 vigorous example in perfect health, but still under 20 ft. in height, of quaint 

 and picturesque form. It flowers freely, and annually produces enormous 

 crops of fruits, which are in colour by September. Brandis observes that 

 this crab is scarcely specifically distinct from P. baccata, but, as represented 

 at Kew, it is easily distinguished by the low-spreading habit, the excessive 

 development of spurs on the stems, the more woolly leaves and the smaller 

 pear-shaped fruit. A pleasing lawn tree. 



P. SINENSIS, Lindley. SAND PEAR. 

 (Bot. Mag., t. 8226.) 



A tree 30 to 40 ft. high, branchlets hairy when young, becoming purplish. 

 Leaves broadly ovate, sometimes roundish, 2 to 4 ins. long, i^ to 2^ ins. 

 wide ; rounded at the base, finely but rather abruptly pointed at the "apex, 

 the margins set with bristle-like teeth, both surfaces smooth, except for a 

 covering of cobweb-like down when first expanding ; stalk I to 2 ins. long, 

 hairy. Flowers white, i^ ins. across, produced late in March or early in 

 April in clusters of about six to eight, each flower on a slender stalk f to \\ 

 ins. long ; calyx-lobes very hairy inside, less so outside ; petals narrowly 

 oval, rather separate from each other. Fruit rounded-oblong, brown, 2 to 

 3 ins. long in cultivated forms ; rounded and about I in. diameter in a wild 

 state, very astringent. 



Native of N. Asia* and much cultivated in N. China and Japan for its 

 fruits, which vary much in form, size, and colour. A tree at Kew which 

 occasionally bears fine crops, has them of the ordinary pear shape, and up to 

 3 ins. long. Named varieties have recently been imported from Japan, which 

 are either round, oblong, or pear-shaped, all, however, characterised by the 

 conspicuously specked surface. They are said, even in Japan, to be only 

 fitted for stewing, but keep a long time. 



Var. SlMONll, Dieck (P. Simonii, Carricre]. As represented at Kew this 

 variety is very easily distinguished by its singular mode of growth. The trees 

 are remarkable for their curiously gaunt habit, the branches being few and 

 scarcely forked. A single branch will grow 6 or 8 ft. without dividing once. 

 The leaves are similar to those of P. sinensis, and edged with the same 

 characteristic, bristle-like teeth. The late Dr Bretschneider, who lived long in 

 N. China, thought this variety to be the "white pear" of the Chinese, said 

 to have a delicious pale yellow, apple-shaped fruit. At Kew the fruits are 

 juicy, conical, tapering to the top, slightly indented at the insertion of the 

 stalk, i^ ins. long and wide, very freely spotted with brown. 



P. SORBUS, Gaertner. SERVICE TREE. 



(Sorbus domestica, Linnaus ; Pyrus domestica, Smith.) 



A deciduous tree, usually 30 to 50 ft. (occasionally 60 to 70 ft. high) ; trunk 

 covered with a scaly, rough bark ; shoots furnished with loose, silky hairs 

 when quite young, \vhich soon fall away ; winter buds glutinous and shining. 

 Leaves pinnate, 5 to 9 ins. long, composed of thirteen to twenty-one leaflets, 

 which are narrowly oblong, usually pointed, but sometimes rounded at the 

 tip ; i^ to i\ ins. long, f to \ in. wide ; margin set with slender teeth except 

 towards the base, which is entire ; smooth above, more or less downy beneath, 

 but becoming smooth or nearly so by autumn. Flowers white, about ^ in. 



