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Beurré Romain

Pear

Beurré Romain

Origin / History

An old variety of uncertain origin, described by Diel in 1802. Known historically under several names, including Fondante de Rome, Beurre de Rome, and La Reine (Downing). Referenced in Leroy's Dictionnaire de Pomologie (1867) with illustration.

Tree

Moderately vigorous (Downing). Not further described in sources.

Fruit

Size: Downing gives medium; Hedrick gives medium or below — both sources note the variety is variable.

Form: Variable. Downing describes obovate pyriform; Hedrick expands this to a range from obovate-pyriform to oblong-obtuse-pyriform.

Stem: Not described in sources.

Cavity: Not described in sources.

Calyx: Not described in sources.

Basin: Not described in sources.

Skin: Downing describes pale yellowish green. Hedrick gives a more detailed account: greenish-yellow, tinged with russet-red on the sun-exposed side, and covered with numerous dark gray spots.

Flesh / Flavor: Downing: white, juicy, sweet, and agreeable. Hedrick: whitish, semi-fine, melting, almost free from grit, juicy, acidulous, saccharine, with a slight and pleasant taste of anis. Both sources concur the variety is variable in quality; Downing rates it Good.

Core / Seeds: Not described in sources.

Season

September to October (both sources).

Uses

Not described in sources.

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in sources.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 1 catalog (1900)

  • Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
View original book sources (2)

Beurre Romain.

Fondante de Rome. Beurre de Rome. La Reine.

An old variety, variable in quality. Tree moderately vigorous.

Fruit of medium size, obovate pyriform. Skin pale yellowish green. Flesh white, juicy, sweet, and agreeable. Good. September to October.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Beurré Romain.

  1. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 364. 1845.
  2. Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:420, figs. 1867.

Of uncertain origin; described by Diel in 1802. Fruit medium or below, variable in form from obovate-pyriform to oblong-obtuse-pyriform, greenish-yellow tinged with russet-red next the sun and covered with numerous dark gray spots; flesh whitish, semi-fine, melting, almost free from grit, juicy, acidulous, saccharine, with a slight and pleasant taste of anis; variable in quality; Sept. and Oct.

— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)
Beurre de Rome Fondante de Rome Franz Madam Frauen B Frauenschenkel Frauenschenkel B Fürstliche Tafel B Girardine Grosse Sommer Prinzen B Grosse Sommer Prinzenbirne Jungfernbirne La Reine Lipp's Lipp's B Melanchthon's B Melanchthon's Birne Paraden B Paradenbirne Prinz Madam Rote Jungfernbirne Römische Schmalzbirne Schmalz B Schmalzbirne Sucre Romain Tafelbirne Weinzapfen B Weinzapfenbirne Zapfen B (Sachsen) Zapfen B. (Sachsen) Äckerles B Bezi de Montigny Fondante de Rome ou Sucre Romain JARGONELLE Rheinische Paradiesbirne