Pyrus 1 56 1 



Varieties and Hybrid 



1. Var. Pyraster, Linnaeus, Sp. PI. 479 (1753), is similar to the type in foliage 

 and thorns ; but has globose fruit. It is of uncertain origin, and is seldom found 

 in woods, being probably in most cases an escape from an adjoining orchard. 



2. Var. sativa, De Candolle, Prod. ii. 634 (1825). This name is applied to 

 the cultivated varieties ^ of the pear, which are usually large trees without thorns. 

 They also differ from the wild type, in having larger foliage, and larger and more 

 edible fruit. Many forms of cultivated pears are probably, however, of hybrid 

 origin ; and can scarcely be assigned to var. sativa. 



The following, which have been described as three distinct species, are probably 

 geographical races of P. communis. 



3. Var. cordata, J. D. Hooker, Student's Flora, 131 (1878). 



Var. azarolifera, Durieu de Massoneuve, in Bull. Soc. Bot. France, v. 726 (1858). 



Var. Briggsii, Boswell-Syme, mjourn. Bot. ix. 182 (18 71). 



Pyrus cordata, Desvaux, Obs. PI. Anjou, 152 (181 8); Decaisne, Jardin Fruitier, i. 330 



(1871); Masters, in Joum. Bot. xiv. 225, t. 180 (1876); Hy, in Bull Herb. Boissier, 



189s, App. I, p. 9. 

 Fliche, in Bull Soc. Bot. France, xlvii. 108 (1900). 



A Spiny shrub, said by Fliche to propagate itself freely by root-suckers. 

 Leaves smaller than in the type, sub-orbicular to ovate, about i in. in width, sub- 

 cordate at the base. Flowers smaller than in the type. Fruit, globose on the 

 French shrub, slightly turbinate on the English plant, very small, not exceeding 

 ^ in. in diameter ; calyx persistent. 



This remarkable pear is wild in the west of France, in Brittany, Anjou, and 

 the Landes. The English form, which differs only in the shape of the fruit, was 

 first found in a hedge between Thornbury and Wood Common in Devon, and 

 later in two hedgerows in Cornwall ^ ; but is now known to be undoubtedly wild ^ 

 in the valley of the Wye, at Symonds Yat, on Dorward, and in Dixton parish. 

 There is a specimen at Kew about 1 2 ft. high, which was obtained from Veitch in 

 1898. 



A similar plant, P. Boissieriana, Buhse, Aufzdhl. Pfi. 87 (i860), found on 

 Mt. Elburz, in Persia, was identified by Boissier* with P. cordata; and, as no 

 similar pear has been found in the vast region intervening between western France 

 and northern Persia, this disjointed distribution has given rise to much speculation.^ 



4. Var. longipes, Henry (var. nova). 



Pyrus longipes, Cosson and Durieu, in Bull. Soc. Bot. France, ii. 310 (1855). 



A small tree, with a few spines. Leaves, about 2 in. long and i in. broad, 

 ovate, acuminate, sub-cordate, glabrous, finely and crenately serrate, on long 

 slender petioles. This, which differs little in foliage from P. cordata, has also 



1 These are described by 'Decaisne, Jardin Fruitier du Musium ( 187 1- 1872). 



2 Davey, Flora of Cornwall, 183 (1909). 



s Riddelsdell, in Joum. Bot. xlix. 170 (191 1). A small tree about lo ft. high, which produces flowers very sparingly, 

 on the cliff at Pen Moel, Chepstow, is probably wild. * Fl. Orient, ii. 653 (1872). 



6 Dr. Phen^ associates P. cordata with the island of Avalon (which means "apples"), now Glastonbury, where King 

 Arthur is said to have been buried. Cf. Card. Chron. iv. 6S4 (1875). 



