Pyrus phaeocarpa

Rehder

Rosaceae Edible: Fruit 13 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

iNaturalist· cc-by

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Pyrus phaeocarpa, the dusky pear or orange pear, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rosaceae, native to the Loess Plateau of northern China. A wide tree reaching at most 7–8 m (23–26 ft) in height, it is hardy to USDA zone 5, or perhaps even zone 4. Its small yellow to brown fruit are edible, and its Autumn foliage is bright orange to orange-red, giving it good potential as an ornamental. Its chloroplast genome shows that it is closely related to Pyrus pashia, the wild Himalayan pear, and it is suspected to be a hybrid of P. betulifolia, the birchleaf pear, P. pyrifolia, the apple pear, and P. ussuriensis, the Manchurian pear.

Description

A tree. It grows 5-8 m tall. Young branches are purplish red. The leaves are narrowly oval and 6-10 cm long by 4-5 cm wide. There are 5-8 flowers in a group. The flowers are 3 cm across. The petals are white. The fruit is brown with pale dots. It is oval and 2-3 cm across.

Edible Uses

The fruit, up to 2cm long, can be eaten raw or cooked.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows on the Loess plateau on China between 100-1,200 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Asia, China,

Cultivation

Prefers a good well-drained loam in full sun. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Tolerates light shade but does not fruit so well in such a position. Tolerates atmospheric pollution, excessive moisture and a range of soil types if they are moderately fertile. Established plants are drought tolerant. Plants are hardy to about -15°c.

Propagation

Seed is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in autumn, when it will typically germinate in mid to late winter. Stored seed requires 8–10 weeks of cold stratification at 1°C and should be sown as early in the year as possible. Temperatures above 15–20°C can induce a secondary dormancy. Prick out seedlings into individual pots once large enough to handle, and grow on in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse through their first year. Plant out in late spring or early summer the following year.

Other Uses

This species is commonly used as rootstock for grafting pear cultivars.

Other Information

It is cultivated.

References (3)

Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
www.efloras.org Flora of China Volume 9
Zeven, A. C. & de West, J. M. J., 1982, Dictionary of cultivated plants and their regions of diversity. Wageningen. p 41