Catherine Lambre
PearCatherine Lambre
Origin/History
Catherine Lambre is one of the new Belgian pears, and one of the last seedlings raised by Van Mons in his nursery at Louvain. It was named and introduced by Bivort. It promises to sustain in America its foreign reputation.
Tree
The tree is very vigorous and hardy, and a good bearer, with long, strong, dark rich yellow-brown shoots.
Fruit
Size and Form: Sources disagree on size. Downing gives it as medium or above; Thomas as medium; Hedrick as large. All three agree on an oblong-obtuse-pyriform shape; Thomas gives the shape as obovate pyriform.
Stem: Medium length, set without depression, inclined. (Downing)
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Large, open. (Downing)
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Smooth, greenish yellow. On the shaded side, covered with russet dots (Hedrick) or bronze specks (Downing). On the sunny side, shaded or blushed with red (Downing) or with tender rose (Hedrick).
Flesh and Flavor: Whitish, half fine (Downing) / semi-fine (Hedrick), juicy, melting, sweet, seldom gritty. The flavor carries an exquisite savor recalling the perfume of the rose. (Hedrick)
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
October and November.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Quality rated very good by all three sources.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Catherine Lambre.
One of the new Belgian Pears that promises to sustain here its foreign reputation. It originated with Van Mons, and was named and introduced by Bivort. The tree is very vigorous and hardy, and a good bearer, with long, strong, dark rich yellow brown shoots.
Fruit medium or above, oblong obtuse pyriform. Skin smooth, greenish yellow, shaded in the sun with red, and dotted with bronze specks. Stalk medium, set without depression, inclined. Calyx large, open. Flesh whitish, half fine, juicy, melting, sweet. Very good. October, November.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Catherine Lambre.
- Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:534, fig. 1867.
- Downing Fr. Trees Am. 716. 1869.
One of the last seedlings raised by Van Mons in his nursery at Louvain. Fruit large, oblong-obtuse-pyriform, greenish-yellow, covered with russet dots on the shaded side and blushed with tender rose on the sunny side; flesh whitish, semi-fine, juicy, melting, sweet, seldom gritty, having an exquisite savor recalling the perfume of the rose; very good; Oct. and Nov.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Catherine Lambre. Medium, obovate pyriform, greenish-yellow; juicy and melting, sweet; very good. October. Belgian.