Pyrus L.
(D.R.G., W.R.S.)
Deciduous trees or shrubs, often spiny below when young and on strong vegetative shoots; stems ascending to spreading; young shoots sometimes hairy. Lvs distributed along long shoots or clustered on short shoots, usually simple, serrate or entire, rarely lobed; stipules deciduous, confined to long shoots. Infl. an umbel-like cluster. Fls 5-merous, ⚥, pedicellate, white or rarely pinkish, medium-sized. Hypanthium tubular, closed at apex. Epicalyx 0. Calyx 5-merous; sepals reflexed or spreading, deciduous or persistent. Petals 5, often suborbicular, spreading. Stamens 20-30. Ovary inferior; carpels 2-5; styles 2-5, free, closely constricted at base by disc; ovules 2 in each locule. Fr. a pyriform, turbinate or globose, fleshy pome containing abundant stone cells; skin usually brown, yellow or green, sometimes with paler dots; carpel walls papery; seeds several, dark brown or black.
c. 20 spp., Eurasia, N. Africa. Naturalised sp. 1.
This genus includes spp. valued as ornamental garden plants, but much more importantly as edible fr. Recently, several spp. from E. Asia have been introduced and are now being extensively cultivated for their frs. The main spp. are Pyrus pyrifolia (Burman f.) Nakai and P. ussuriensis Maxim., cvs of which are referred to as Asian pears or nashi.
