Alexandre Lambre
PearAlexandre Lambre
Origin / History
Alexandre Lambre is a seedling raised by Van Mons. Hedrick writes that it "did not fruit until 1844, two years after the death of the great pomologist." Bunyard says it was fruited by Bivort in 1844. Elliott lists it as "Foreign." Bunyard cites Bivort I., 31. Hedrick cites the Annales de Pomologie Belge (2:94, with figure, 1854) and Hogg's Fruit Manual (472, 1884). Bunyard calls it "a very valuable fruit."
Tree
Moderate (Bunyard) to vigorous (Downing) in growth, spreading. Branches long and slender (Downing); shoots slender, yellowish, spreading (Thomas). Makes a good standard. Leaf rather small, held nearly flat, finely serrate, turning dull brownish-red. Fertility excellent (Bunyard).
Fruit
Size: Medium; 2¾ by 3 (Bunyard).
Form: Roundish to oblate, obtuse-pyriform (Downing, Hedrick). Elliott notes it compressed at the ends; Thomas calls it roundish-obovate; Bunyard gives short conical, even.
Stem: Stout; not sunk (Thomas); generally long and woody (Bunyard).
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Eye large, a little open (Bunyard).
Basin: Shallow to flat; rounded (Bunyard).
Skin: Smooth. Ground yellowish green, pale yellow-green, or bright yellowish-green, Downing calling it yellowish. Mottled or marbled with red toward the sun, or brown red to brownish-red on the side next the sun. Russet at the base of the stem and calyx (Elliott). Netted and patched with russet (Downing); cinnamon russet in patches around the stem (Bunyard); slight markings of russet (Hedrick). In appearance as a larger and earlier Josephine de Malines (Bunyard).
Dots: Large (Bunyard); Hedrick has the skin sprinkled with minute russety dots.
Flesh and flavor: Flesh white, greenish white (Elliott), or yellowish pinkish white (Downing). Melting, juicy, free from grit, a little soft (Hedrick). Sweet; rich (Thomas); a little astringent (Downing). Hedrick calls it acid, "possessing a delicate, musk flavor." Downing rates it "good to very good"; Thomas finds it "sometimes very good, frequently poor."
Core and seeds: Core small. Seeds plump, acute-pointed (Elliott).
Season
October through December, every source including November. Elliott and Thomas give November and December. Bunyard places it earlier, October to November.
Uses
Dessert (Bunyard).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 5 period pomological works
- Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)
- Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900) — listed as Alexandra Lambre
- Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921) — listed as Alexandra Lambre
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 5 catalogs (1900–1917) from England
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917
View original book sources (5)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Alexandre Lambre.
Foreign. Fruit, medium, roundish, compressed at ends, yellowish green, mottled with red in sun, russet at base of stem and calyx; stem, stout; calyx, in a flat basin; flesh, greenish white, melting, juicy, sweet; core, small; seeds, plump, acute pointed. November, December.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Alexandra Lambre.
One of Van Mons' seedlings. Tree vigorous, spreading. Branches long, slender.
Fruit medium, oblate obtuse pyriform, yellowish, netted and patched with russet, brown red in sun. Flesh yellowish pinkish white, juicy, sweet, a little astringent. Good to very good. October, December.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Alexandre Lambre. Size medium, roundish-obovate; yellowish-green marbled with red toward the sun; stalk stout, not sunk; basin shallow; flesh juicy, melting, sweet, rich, sometimes very good, frequently poor. November, December. Shoots slender, yellowish, spreading.
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)ALEXANDRE LAMBRE. Bivort I., 31. Dessert, October to November, medium, 2¾ by 3, short conical, even. Skin, smooth with russet patches around stem and large dots. Colour, pale yellow-green with cinnamon russet. Flesh, white, melting, not gritty. Eye, large, a little open in a shallow rounded basin. Stem, generally long and woody. Growth, moderate, makes a good standard; fertility, excellent. Leaf, rather small, held nearly flat, finely serrate, turns dull brownish-red. Origin, raised by Van Mons, and fruited by Bivort, in 1844. This is a very valuable fruit and is in appearance as a larger and earlier Josephine de Malines.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Alexandra Lambre. 1. Ann. Pom. Belge 2:94, fig. 1854. 2. Hogg Fruit Man. 472. 1884.
A seedling of Van Mons which did not fruit until 1844, two years after the death of the great pomologist. Fruit medium, oblate, obtuse-pyriform, bright yellowish-green, sprinkled with minute russety dots and slight markings of russet, brownish-red on the side next the sun; flesh white, a little soft, melting, juicy, sweet, acid, free from grit and possessing a delicate, musk flavor; Nov.