Abbé Pérez
PearAbbé Pérez
Origin / History
Downing (citing Leroy) gives the origin as Germany, introduced in 1862. Hedrick gives France: the parent tree was found in a garden of the Abbé Pérez, Lectoure, Department Gers, and was grafted and distributed in 1859. Described in Leroy, Dict. Pom. 1:83, with figure (1867); noticed in Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, p. 654 (1869).
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size: Small to medium (Downing, after Leroy); above medium (Hedrick).
Form: Oval-oblate to ovate; flattened at both ends (Hedrick).
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Yellowish green, splashed and dotted with red, shaded with fawn color at the apex (Downing); dotted and streaked with russet (Hedrick).
Dots: Red (Downing); russet (Hedrick).
Flesh and flavor: Flesh whitish, fine, firm, melting, juicy; harsh at the core. Flavor vinous, sweet, sugary, acidulous, delicately perfumed. Quality "first" (Hedrick).
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
November to February.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Abbe Perez.
This Pear originated in Germany, and was introduced in 1862. Fruit small to medium, oval oblate. Skin yellowish green, splashed and dotted with red, shaded with fawn-color at the apex. Flesh whitish, firm, melting, juicy, harsh at the core, vinous, sweet. November, February. (Leroy.)
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Abbé Pérez. 1. Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:83, fig. 1867. 2. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 654. 1869.
The parent tree of this variety was found in a garden of the Abbé Pérez, Lectoure, Department Gers, Fr. It was grafted and distributed in 1859. Fruit above medium, ovate, flattened at both ends, yellowish-green, dotted and streaked with russet; flesh whitish, fine, melting, juicy, sugary, acidulous, delicately perfumed; first; Nov. to Feb.