57. PYRUS COMMUNIS PEAR. 19 



A tree with roundish ovoid or somewhat pyramidal head, sometimes 

 attaining the height of 50 ft. (15 m.) and 3 ft. (0.90 m.) in diameter of 

 trunk, though usually much smaller and rarely ever larger. Its bark is 

 of a bluish-gray color, close and smooth, peeling off in strips transversely 

 around the tree. 



When growing in the forest the tree develops a long straight trunk. 



HABITAT. The native habitat of this tree is Europe and Central Asia, 

 from whence it has been extensively introduced into this country, and is 

 cultivated in many varieties. It is found now growing naturally in many 

 localities, and hence the importance of including it in this work. 



Of its occurrence in western New York, Prof. W. R. Dudley* says 

 that it is found in "all ravines near Ithaca and especially abundant on 

 both shores of the lake (Cayuga), where it forms thickets and groves." 



PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. Wood rather light, soft, close-grained 

 and easily worked. It is of a rich reddish-brown color, with scant sap- 

 wood much lighter. 



USES. The chief economic value of the tree lies in its fruit, for which 

 it holds a high rank. The wood is not, so far as we know, used to any ex- 

 tent in this country, excepting occasionally -for fuel, though it is of excel- 

 lent quality, and, if abundant, would doubtless be as popular as the na- 

 tive Black Cherry to which it is scarcely inferior. 



There is a double-flowered form of this species which does not develop 

 fruit. It is a very ornamental tree and attains a considerable size. 



MEDICINAL PROPERTIES are not ascribed to this species, though its 

 bitter bark doubtless possesses the tonic and sedative virtues mentioned 

 (Part II, p. 18) of the P. serotina. 



GENUS PYRUS, L. 



Leaves simple or pinnate; stipules free. Flowers white or rose-colored in corymbed 

 cymes; calyx-tube urn-sbaped, becoming tbick and fleshy in the fruit, limb 5-cleft; 

 petals 5, obovate or roundish ; stamens numerous; styles' 5 (or sometimes 2-3), and 

 carpels of the same number 2-seeded, with papery or cartilaginous endocarp and 

 united with the calyx-tube. Fruit a closed pome, fleshy or berry-like. 



Trees or shrubs. (" Pyrus" is the ancient Latin name of the pear-tree.) 



57. PYRUS COMMUNIS, L. 

 PEAR. 



Grer., Binibaum ; Fr., Poirier commun; Sp., Peral. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: Leaves simple, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, more or less ser- 

 rate, acute or acuminate, 2-4 inches long, very smooth and shining above, glabrous 

 beneath. Flowers in racemous-corymbs, white and scentless; calyx and pedicels 

 pubescent; styles 5, distinct and villous at base. Fruit & pome, usually elongate, 

 attenuated at base and not sunken at the insertion of the peduncle. 



The Cayuga Flora, p. 27. 



