POMACES 385 



PYRUS COMMUNIS (Common Pear) 



Stem.- — The common pear is a tree of upright-growing 

 habit. The flower buds are mixed and terminal, as in most 

 apples. Paddock and Whipple have shown that, in Colorado 

 at least, the Anjou pear may produce blossom buds on one- 

 year-old spurs; that Bartletts may form bloom on the end of 

 the last year's growth; that Anjou, Bartlett, Duchess, and 

 KiefTer varieties produce bloom in axillary buds on the last 

 year's growth, and that a number of varieties, as Anjou, 

 Bartlett, Duchess and Sheldon, are annual bearers. There 

 are usually from six to nine flowers in a bud. The "spurs" 

 are similar in appearance and development to those of the 

 apple. 



Leaves and Flowers. — The leaves are ovate, elliptic, and 

 finely toothed. The flowers are in simple terminal cymes; 

 the pedicels are 2 to 3 inches long, and appear with the leaves; 

 the petals are five in number, rounded, short-clawed, and 

 usually white; the sepals are persistent; the styles are distinct 

 to the base. 



Fruit. — The fruit varies in shape, usually tapering to the 

 base; the flesh is with grit cells (Fig. 160) (groups of stone cells 

 imbedded in parenchyma). 



Geographical. — The common pear is probably a native of southern Europe 

 and Asia. In many localities, it has escaped from cultivation. There are 

 numerous cultivated varieties. The pear thrives best in the northern half of 

 the United States. 



PYRUS SEROTINA CULTA (Sand, Japanese, or Chinese Pear) 



This is a strong-growing tree with broad-ovate, long- 

 pointed leaves that are very sharply toothed. The large 

 flowers appear before the leaves. The fruit is hard and 

 russet-like, keeps well, and has a deciduous calyx. 



The tree is a native of China. Chinese Sand, Madame von 

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