Pear
Pyrus communis L.

Synonyms - Pirus communis

Order - Rosales

Family - Rosaceae

Names:

Pyrus

Communis

Pear

Summary:

A deciduous tree producing yellow pear shaped fruit.

Description:

Cotyledons:

Two.

Leaves:

Stipules -

Petiole -

Blade -

Stems:

Flower head:

Flowers:

Ovary -

Sepals -

Petals -

Stamens -

Anthers -

Fruit:

Pear shaped, yellow, mottled.

Seeds:

Tear shaped, dark.

Roots:

Key Characters:

Biology:

Life cycle:

Deciduous perennial tree.

Physiology:

Chilling requirement similar to Apples. Some varieties have a low chilling requirement.

More tolerant of hot conditions than Apple but more sensitive to cold injury.

Relatively tolerant to water logging.

Reproduction:

Often cross pollinated.

Flowering times:

Seed Biology and Germination:

Vegetative Propagules:

Cuttings.

Hybrids:

Many commercial varieties including Beurre Bosc, Josephine, Packham's Triumph, Williams Bon Chretien, Winter Nelis, Winter Cole.

Allelopathy:

Population Dynamics and Dispersal:

Spread mainly by intentional planting on grafted stock.

Origin and History:

Europe. Asia. North of Persia.

Distribution:

ACT, NSW, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA.

Habitats:

Climate:

Cool to warm temperate. Mediterranean.

Areas with an annual rainfall greater than 760 mm or irrigated areas.

Soil:

Wide range of soils including water logging prone soil types.

Plant Associations:

Significance:

Beneficial:

Fruit.

Pollen.

Detrimental:

Toxicity:

None recorded.

Legislation:

None.

Management and Control:

Thresholds:

Eradication strategies:

Herbicide resistance:

Biological Control:

Important pests include Two Spotted Mite, Codling Moth, Pear Leaf Blister Mite and Oyster Shell Scale.

Diseases include Black Spot and Blossom Blight.

Related plants:

Asian Pear or Nashi (Pyrus pyrifolia)

Apple (Malus domestica)

Plants of similar appearance:

References:

Lazarides, M. and Hince, B. (1993). CSIRO handbook of economic plants of Australia. (CSIRO, Melbourne). #1041.1.

Reid, R.L. (1990) The Manual of Australian Agriculture. (Butterworths, Sydney). P179.

Acknowledgments:

Collated by HerbiGuide. Phone 08 98444064 or www.herbiguide.com.au for more information.