Beurré Lefèvre
PearBeurré Lefèvre
Origin/History
A French pear distributed by M. Lefèvre of Mortefontaine, near Paris, in 1846. Referenced in Downing (1869) and Hogg (1884).
Tree
Not described in sources.
Fruit
Size: Large.
Form: Downing describes the fruit as roundish or roundish obovate; Hedrick describes it as obovate and sometimes oval.
Stem: Not described in sources.
Cavity: Not described in sources.
Calyx: Not described in sources.
Basin: Not described in sources.
Skin: Greenish-yellow on the shaded side, much covered with russet, and brownish-orange on the side next the sun with some streaks of red (Hedrick). Downing describes the surface more simply as greenish yellow with brownish orange in the sun, without mention of russet or red streaks.
Flesh/Flavor: White. Hedrick describes the flesh as rather gritty at the core, melting, juicy, rich, aromatic, and delicious, and notes it soon decays at the core. Downing describes the flesh more harshly as gritty and coarse throughout, without the positive qualities Hedrick records.
Core/Seeds: Not described in sources.
Season
Middle and end of October (Hedrick); October (Downing).
Uses
Not described in sources.
Subtypes/Variants
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)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.
— 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.