Beurré Lefèvre
PearBeurré Lefèvre
Origin / History
An old French pear, originated about 1740 (Downing). Distributed by M. Lefèvre of Mortefontaine near Paris in 1846 (Hedrick).
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size: Large (Downing's first entry; Hedrick); very large (Downing's second entry).
Form: Roundish, roundish obovate, or roundish oval (Downing); obovate and sometimes oval (Hedrick).
Stem: Stalk stout.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Segments reflexed.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Greenish yellow or dull green, much covered with russet on the shaded side (Hedrick); brownish orange or dull brown on the side next the sun, with some streaks of red (Hedrick).
Dots: Numerous, large, conspicuous, gray (Downing, second entry).
Flesh and flavor: White to greenish white, melting, juicy. Rich, aromatic and "delicious" (Hedrick); vinous, perfumed (Downing). Downing's first entry gives it gritty and coarse; his second gives it fine. Hedrick: rather gritty at the core; soon decays at the core.
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
October (both Downing entries); middle and end of October (Hedrick).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
- Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900) — listed as Beurre Le Fevre
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Beurre Le Fevre.
Beurre de Mortefontaine. Lefevre.
A French Pear of large size, roundish or roundish obovate, greenish yellow, with brownish orange in the sun. Flesh white, gritty, coarse. October.
[Additional entry in this volume: "Lefevre", pp. 822–822]
Lefevre. Beurré le Fevre. Beurré de Mortefontaine.
An old French Pear, originated about 1740. Fruit very large, roundish oval, dull green, dull brown in sun, with numerous conspicuous large gray dots. Stalk stout. Calyx with reflexed segments. Flesh greenish white, fine, melting, juicy, vinous, perfumed. October. (Jar.)
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Beurré Lefèvre.
- Downing Fr. Trees Am. 799. 1869.
- Hogg Fruit Man. 524. 1884.
This variety was distributed by M. Lefèvre of Mortefontaine near Paris in 1846. Fruit large, obovate and sometimes oval, greenish-yellow on the shaded side and much covered with russet, but brownish-orange on the side next the sun, with some streaks of red; flesh white, rather gritty at the core, melting, juicy, rich, aromatic and delicious, soon decays at the core; middle and end of Oct.