Bergamotte Bufo
PearBergamotte Bufo
Origin/History
An old French pear cultivated at Orleans as early as 1628, where it was known as Crapant or Toad on account of the rough character of its skin. It was also known in Germany in 1690 under this latter name and as Oignon rosat, by reason of its shape and the perfume of its juice. In France, because of the supposed inelegance of the word "crapant," its name was changed in 1846 to Bufo, the Latin name of a toad. It had heretofore been confounded with Bergamotte Cadet. Also known in Germany as Kröten Bergamotte.
Tree
Vigorous and productive. Young wood light reddish yellow brown. Other tree characteristics not described in sources.
Fruit
Size and Form: Downing describes the fruit as medium, roundish oblate. Hedrick describes it as above medium, globular-oblate, even and regular like a true Bergamot.
Stem: Long, set in a broad, rather shallow cavity (Downing). Basin characteristics beyond the cavity not described in sources.
Calyx: Open.
Basin: Not described in sources beyond the cavity noted under Stem.
Skin: Rough in character. Downing describes the color as greenish yellow, netted and patched with russet, and thickly sprinkled with russet dots. Hedrick describes it as dark yellow, dotted and marbled with fawn, and usually also bearing some large brown stains.
Flesh/Flavor: Downing describes the flesh as yellowish, juicy, melting, sweet, and slightly vinous, rating it Good. Hedrick describes the flesh as white, melting, and fine, with juice sufficient, vinous, acidulous, sugary, and savory, recalling the scent of the rose, and rates it an excellent dessert pear.
Core/Seeds: Not described in sources.
Season
Late October.
Uses
Dessert pear (Hedrick).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in sources.
Other
Not described in sources.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Bergamotte Bufo.
Bergamotte Capraud. Crapaud.
An old French Pear, heretofore confounded with Bergamotte Cadet. Tree vigorous, productive. Young wood light reddish yellow brown.
Fruit medium, roundish oblate, greenish yellow, netted and patched with russet, and thickly sprinkled with russet dots. Stalk long, in a broad, rather shallow cavity. Calyx open. Flesh yellowish, juicy, melting, sweet, slightly vinous. Good. October.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Bergamotte Bufo.
- Leroy Diet. Pom. 1:228, fig. 1867.
- Hogg Fruit Man. 498. 1884. Kröten Bergamotte. 3. Mathieu Nom. Pom. 244. 1889.
Le Lectier says this pear was cultivated at Orleans in 1628 under the name of Crapant or Toad on account of the rough character of its skin. It was also known in Germany in 1690 under this latter name and as Oignon rosat by reason of its shape and the perfume of its juice. In 1846 in France, because of the supposed inelegance of the word "crapant," its name was changed to Bufo, the Latin name of a toad. Fruit above medium, globular-oblate, even and regular like a true Bergamot; skin rough, dark yellow, dotted and marbled with fawn and usually also bearing some large brown stains; flesh white, melting, fine; juice sufficient, vinous, acidulous, sugary, savory, recalling the scent of the rose; excellent dessert pear; late Oct.