Pyrus pyrifolia

Pyrus pyrifolia is a species of pear tree native to southern China and northern Indochina that has been introduced to Korea, Japan and other parts of the world. The tree's edible fruit is known by many names, including Asian pear, Persian pear, Japanese pear, Chinese pear, Korean pear, Taiwanese pear, apple pear, zodiac pear, three-halves pear, papple, naspati, bata kisbis, Fefeta grained pear and sand pear. Along with cultivars of P. × bretschneideri and Pyrus ussuriensis, the fruit is also called the nashi pear. Cultivars derived from Pyrus pyrifolia are grown throughout East Asia, and in other countries such Pakistan, Nepal, Australia, New Zealand, and America. Traditionally in East Asia the tree's flowers are a popular symbol of early spring, and it is a common sight in gardens and the countryside. The fruits are not generally baked in pies or made into jams because they have a high water content and a crisp, grainy texture, very different from the European varieties. They are commonly served raw and peeled. The fruit tends to be quite large and fragrant. When carefully wrapped, having a tendency to bruise because of its juiciness, it can last for several weeks (or more) in a cold, dry place.

Description

A medium sized tree. It grows 15 m high and spreads 9 m wide. The leaves are oblong and have teeth along the edge. The leaves turn orange and bronze in the autumn. The flowers are small and white. They appear almost the same time as the leaves. The fruit is round and the size of an apple. The skin is thin. They can be green, yellow or bronze. They have a gritty texture. Some forms have larger, softer fruit. These cultivated forms may be crosses between Pyrus pyrifolia and Pyrus ussuriensis. These are oval and yellow with a crisp texture.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. It is hard and gritty in texture but becomes firm, crisp, and juicy when fully ripe, at which point it is eaten out of hand or used in fruit salads, pies, or baked dishes. The fruit is reported as up to 3cm long, and up to 5cm in some accounts. Wild trees in the Himalayas average 83kg of fruit per year, with some individuals yielding up to 200kg. The fruit contains approximately 4.9% sugars, 3.2% protein, and 0.9% pectin.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten raw. They are also poached, baked or coated with honey. They are canned and processed into fruit nectar and preserves.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The plant has antiseptic, astringent, febrifuge, nervine, and pectoral properties.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. In Vietnam it is cultivated in the northern highlands between 1,000 and 1,500 m altitude. It needs 300-800 hours of cold below 7°C each year. They are hardy to frost. They will grow on most soils. In Hobart Botanical gardens. In XTBG Yunnan. It suits hardiness zones 4-9. In Sichuan and Yunnan. Arboretum Tasmania.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Central Asia, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, New Zealand, North America, Pakistan, Philippines, SE Asia, South America, Taiwan, Tajikistan,Tasmania, Thailand, USA, Vietnam,

Cultivation

Plants are grown by grafting. Plants can be grown from seed.

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

None known

Production

Trees bear in 3-4 years.

Other Information

It is cultivated.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Desi nakh, Dolbaenamu, Korean pear, Japanese pear, Le, Nashpati, Salad pear, Oriental pear, Sha li, Pae, Pera-nashi

References (37)

• Altschul, S.V.R., 1973, Drugs and Foods from Little-known Plants. Notes in Harvard University Herbaria. Harvard Univ. Press. Massachusetts. no. 1400 (As Pyrus serotina)
• Anderson, E. F., 1993, Plants and people of the Golden Triangle. Dioscorides Press. p 219
• Awan, M. R., et al, 2011, Studies on traditional knowledge of economically important plants of Kaghan Valley, Mansehra District, Pakistan. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 5(16), pp. 3958-3967
• Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 40:564. 1926
• Cheifetz, A., (ed), 1999, 500 popular vegetables, herbs, fruits and nuts for Australian Gardeners. Random House p 238

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