Angleterre Nain
PearAngleterre Nain
Origin and History
This variety was raised from seed in 1832 at Paris by Edouard Sageret. It appeared first under the name Angleterre parfumée and was so published in 1835, but was subsequently renamed. Leroy's Dictionnaire de Pomologie (1867) provides the primary botanical description from which later accounts derive.
Fruit
Size and Form: The two principal sources disagree on size. Downing gives it as small to medium, while Hedrick characterizes it as "rather above than below medium." Both describe the form as obtuse. Downing calls it obovate obtuse pyriform; Hedrick describes it as turbinate (top-shaped), obtuse, swelled, and consistently more enlarged on one side than the other — giving it a distinctly asymmetrical profile.
Stem: Stalk long (Downing).
Calyx: Half closed (Downing).
Skin: Rough to the touch, dull green. The two sources differ on the surface dotting: Downing states the skin is dotted with red in the sun; Hedrick states it is uniformly dotted with clear russet.
Flesh: Whitish, fine. Downing describes the flesh as juicy and harsh near the core; Hedrick says it is breaking (melting in texture) and gritty at the center — both pointing to grittiness concentrated toward the core. Juice abundant, fresh, and sweet (Hedrick). Flavor musky (both sources). Hedrick rates the quality as first.
Season
September and October.
Uses
Not specified in the sources beyond the implicit table/dessert use suggested by the quality rating of "first."
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Angleterre Nain. Angleterre Parfume. Origin, Paris, France. Fruit small to medium, obovate obtuse pyriform. Stalk long. Calyx half closed. Skin rough, dull green, dotted with red in the sun. Flesh whitish, fine, juicy, harsh near the core, musky. September, October. (Leroy.)
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Angleterre Nain. 1. Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:140, fig. 1867. 2. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 661. 1869.
This variety was raised from seed in 1832 at Paris by Edouard Sageret. It appeared first under the name Angleterre parfumée and was so published in 1835, but for some reason was renamed. Fruit rather above than below medium, turbinate, obtuse, swelled and always more enlarged on one side than on the other; skin rough to the touch, dull green, uniformly dotted with clear russet; flesh whitish, fine, breaking, gritty at the center; juice abundant, fresh, sweet, with a musky savor; first; Sept. and Oct.