Pyrus betulifolia

Bunge

Birch-leaved pear, Puckered pear, Russet pear

Rosaceae Edible: Flowers, Fruit, Leaves 87 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

iNaturalist· cc-by

Summary

Pyrus betulifolia, known as the birchleaf pear in English and tang li in Chinese, is a deciduous wild pear tree native to the leafy forests of northern and central China and Tibet. It can grow 10 meters high in optimal conditions. Formidable thorns (which are modified stems) protect its leaves from predation. These narrow and extended leaves, resembling smaller birch leaves, provide it with its specific name betulifolia, meaning "birch leaf". Its small fruit (5–11 mm (0.20–0.43 in) in diameter) are used as ingredients in types of rice wine in China and sake in Japan. It is used as rootstock for grafting popular Asian pear varieties.

Description

A small slender tree. It grows 9 m high and spreads 4.5 m wide. The leaves are oval or rounded. They have a slender tip and strong teeth along the edge. They are greyish-green when young but the upper surface becomes green and shiny. The fruit are small and dark brown. The small fruit become puckered and edible after frost.

Edible Uses

The fruit are eaten after frost, or may be buried in wheat containers until they turn black before eating. Leaves are boiled and eaten with oil and salt. Sun-dried flowers are powdered and baked into cakes.

Traditional Uses

The sun-dried flowers are powdered and baked into 'cakes.' Leaves are boiled and eaten with oil and salt. The fruit are eaten after frost. They are also buried in wheat containers until the fruit turn black then eaten.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows from sea level to 1,800 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 5-9. Arboretum Tasmania.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, China*, Laos, SE Asia, Tasmania, Tibet,

Also Known As

Du li, Yeh li, Manshu-mame-nashi, Reli

References (12)

Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1117
Enum. pl. China bor. 27. 1833 (Mem. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.-Petersbourg Divers Savans 2:101. 1835) "betulaefolia"
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 205
Flora of China @ efloras.org Volume 9
Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 538

Show all 12 references

Hu, Shiu-ying, 2005, Food Plants of China. The Chinese University Press. p 448
Ju, Y., et al, 2013, Eating from the wild: diversity of wild edible plants used by Tibetans in Shangri-la region, Yunnan, China, Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethno medicine 9:28
Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 731
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
READ,
Valder, P., 1999, The Garden Plants of China. Florilegium. p 160
Zeven, A. C. & de West, J. M. J., 1982, Dictionary of cultivated plants and their regions of diversity. Wageningen. p 41