Colmar Épine
PearColmar Épine
Origin / History
Downing says Colmar Épine was originated by Van Mons and sent by him to this country. Hedrick calls the origin uncertain, "possibly one of Van Mons' seedlings," and says it was distributed by M. Bouvier of Jodoigne, Belgium. Thomas calls it Belgian, and Elliott lists it as foreign. Hedrick cites Mas, Le Verger (1866–73, fig. 146), and Downing (1869). He records that Leroy figured it in the Dictionnaire de Pomologie (1867) under the name "Beurre Épine." Downing calls it "an agreeable juicy Pear."
Tree
Young shoots stout, upright, brown (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Large; Hedrick alone gives above medium.
Form: Roundish oblong, obtuse, tapering gradually to an obtuse point at the stem (Downing). Hedrick gives long-obtuse-pyriform, ventriculated in its lower part, symmetrical.
Stem: One inch long (Downing).
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Dull green or pale green, with cloudings of darker hue, becoming greenish yellow and, at maturity, lemon-yellow. Mottled with fawn-russet and strongly washed with brownish-russet on the side opposed to the sun (Hedrick).
Dots: Not described in source.
Flesh and flavor: Flesh white or whitish, semi-fine, melting, gritty around the core (Hedrick). Juicy, the juice abundant, sweet, vinous and saccharine, with an acidulous flavor. Downing rates it "good," Elliott "very good," and Hedrick ranks it "second."
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Elliott and Downing give September, Downing specifying the middle of September. Hedrick gives November.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)COLMAR EPINE.
Foreign. Fruit, large, roundish obtuse oblong, dull green, with cloudings of darker hue; flesh, white, melting, vinous, juicy; "very good." September.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Colmar Epine.
An agreeable juicy Pear, sent to this country by Van Mons, and originated by him. Young shoots stout, upright, brown.
Fruit large, roundish oblong, tapering gradually to an obtuse point at the stem, which is one inch long. Color greenish yellow. Flesh white, sweet, melting, juicy, and good. Middle of September.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Colmar Epine. Large, roundish-oblong, greenish-yellow; flesh sweet, melting; good; agreeable. September. Belgian.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Colmar Épine.
- Mas Le Verger 5:Pt. 2, 99, fig. 146. 1866-73. 2. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 725. 1869.
Beurre Épine. 3. Leroy Diet. Pom. 1:359, fig. 1867.
Origin uncertain, possibly one of Van Mons' seedlings, distributed by M. Bouvier, Jodoigne, Bel. Fruit above medium, long-obtuse-pyriform, ventriculated in its lower part, symmetrical, pale green changing at maturity to lemon-yellow, mottled with fawn-russet and strongly washed with brownish-russet on the side opposed to the sun; flesh whitish, semi-fine, melting, gritty around the core; juice abundant, vinous and saccharine, with an acidulous flavor; second; Nov.