Pyrus communis L.

Habit

Tree

Family Description

Trees, shrubs or herbs; sometimes armed, indumentum of simple hairs (sometimes stellate in Rubus). Leaves alternate, simple or pinnately, stipules usually present. Flowers solitary or often in fascicles, racemes, cymes, corymbs or panicles, actinomorphic, bisexual, rarely unisexual. Calyx lobes, petals and stamens inserted at margin of calyx cup or tube (hypanthium). Calyx lobes 4-6, sometimes with as many outer epicalyx segments. Petals 4-6 or more, free. Stamens 4-many. Ovary of 1-many free, superior carpels or 4-6-celled, inferior or semi-inferior and united to calyx-tube; styles simple, free, sometimes united; ovules 1 or more per cell. Fruit an achene (often aggregated), follicle, drupe or pome.

Genus Description

Deciduous trees. Leaves simple, unlobed; stipules deciduous. Flowers in corymbs unfolding before or with young leaves. Calyx tube oblong, broadening above, lobes 5. Petals 5. Stamens numerous (20-30). Ovary infrrior; styles 3-5, free. Fruit (pome) ellipsoid, flesh glandular, 3-5-celled, each cell cartilaginous, 1(-2)-seeded, calyx lobes deciduous or ± persistent.

Species description

Similar to P.pashia but leaves broadly ovate up to 6cm broad, apex usually abruptly acute, base rounded, margin crenately serrate ot subentire; petioles up to 6cm; corymbs 5-11-flowered borne on short much-scarred shoots, pedicels glabrous, 12-30mm; pomes obovoid or subglobose 4-6cm diameter, calyx lobes ± persistent.