Citron

Pear

Origin/History

A seedling of the late Governor Edwards. Elliott (1865) specifies it as a native of New Haven, Connecticut.

Tree

A vigorous, upright grower, producing large crops, but inclined to rot at the core (Downing).

Fruit

Size: Downing, Hedrick, and Thomas describe the fruit as small. Elliott describes it as medium.

Form: Nearly globular, approaching turbinate (Downing). Hedrick gives "globular-turbinate." Elliott describes it as roundish obovate. Thomas gives simply "roundish."

Stem: Short, rather stout, set in an abrupt, uneven cavity (Downing).

Cavity: Abrupt, uneven (Downing).

Calyx: Closed (Downing).

Basin: Broad, shallow, irregular (Downing).

Skin: Greenish, slightly shaded with dull crimson (Downing). Elliott describes the skin as dull green, sprinkled with small russety dots, with no mention of crimson shading.

Flesh/Flavor: Greenish, rather coarse, juicy, melting, sugary, vinous, with a musky perfume (Downing). Elliott describes the flesh as greenish white, a little coarse, melting, juicy, rated "very good." Downing and Hedrick rate it "good."

Core/Seeds: Not described in source, though Downing notes the tree is inclined to rot at the core.

Season

Middle of August to middle of September (Downing). Elliott gives "Last August." Thomas gives August and September.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 4 period pomological works

View original book sources (4)

Citron.

A seedling of the late Governor Edwards, a vigorous, upright grower, producing large crops, but inclined to rot at the core.

Fruit small, nearly globular, approaching turbinate. Stalk short, rather stout, set in an abrupt, uneven cavity. Calyx closed. Basin broad, shallow, irregular. Skin greenish, slightly shaded with dull crimson. Flesh greenish, rather coarse, juicy, melting, sugary, vinous, with a musky perfume. Good. Ripe from middle of August to middle of September.

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

Citron. 1. Mag. Hort. 4:231. 1838. 2. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 720. 1869.

A seedling of the late Governor Edwards. Fruit small, globular-turbinate, greenish, shaded with dull crimson; flesh greenish, rather coarse, juicy, melting, sugary, vinous, musky; good; Aug. and Sept.

— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)

Citron.

American. Native of New Haven, Conn. Fruit, medium, roundish obovate, dull green, sprinkled with small russety dots ; flesh, a little coarse, greenish white, melting, juicy ; "very good." Last August.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Citron. Small, roundish, greenish; coarse; juicy, vinous, musky. August, September.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

Citronnée Doyenné Gris Doyenne Sentelet Doyenne White Henri Bouet Limon Urbaniste Vicar Of Winkfield