106 



N. Ord. ROSACE^E. 



Tribe Potneae. Lindl., Veg. Kingd., p. 559 (N. Ord. Pomaces). 

 Genus Pyrus, Linn* B. & H., Gen. I, t. 626 ; Baill., 1. c., pp. 

 392 & 463. Species about 40, natives of the temperate 

 regions of the northern hemisphere. 



106. Pyrus Cydonia,t Linn., Sp. PL, ed. I, p. 480 (1753). 



Quince. 



Syn. Cydonia vulgaris, Pers. & other authors. C. europsea, Savi. Sorbus 

 Cydonia, Crantz. 



Figures. Woodville, t. 182 ; Hayne, iv, t. 47 ; Steph. & Ch., t. 115 ; 

 Nees, t. 305 ; Berg & Sch., t. 46 c ; Berg, Charact., t. 63, f. 479 ; Bot. 

 Reg., t. 905; Jacq., Fl. Austr., t. 312. 



I Description. A bush or small tree with spreading branches, 

 the bark purplish-brown, thin, the young twigs covered with a 

 dense, yellowish-grey tomentum. Leaves shortly stalked, entire, 

 ovate, blunt or acute, 1^ 2J inches long. Stipules roundish 

 or oblong-oval, serrate and denticulate, with marginal glands ; 

 petioles and under surface densely covered with short, thick, 

 yellowish wool, which when the leaves are young also covers their 

 upper surface. Flowers usually solitary at the ends of the branches, 

 with several bracts at the base of similar form to the stipules. 

 Calyx-tube globular-ovoid, densely tomentose. Teeth 5, large, 

 oval-oblong, acute, glandular- serrate, foliaceous, reflexed during 

 flowering, persistent. Corolla of 5 petals, more than 2 inches 

 across. Petals round- obovate, woolly at the base, white or pink. 

 Stamens about 20 in two rows, the inner ones shorter, inserted on 

 the prominent rim of the calyx-tube (hollow receptacle). Ovary 

 surrounded by the thick " calyx-tube," 5-celled, ovules numerous in 

 two rows in each cell, ascending ; styles 5, densely woolly below ; 

 stigmas capitate. Fruit a large pome, woolly when young, some- 



* Pyrus, a pear tree ; the classical name. 



t From KvSwvia, a town in Crete, where, according to Pliny, this shrub was 

 indigenous. 



