Copia
PearCopia
Origin/History
Copia is an American pear that originated about the middle of the nineteenth century as a seedling in Philadelphia (Downing; Hedrick; Thomas). Hedrick cites references to the variety in McIntosh's Book of the Garden 2:455 (1855), and Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1857 ed., p. 571; 1869 ed., p. 729).
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size
Large (Elliott, Downing, Thomas, Hedrick).
Form
Sources differ on the form: Elliott describes the fruit as obovate, acute pyriform; Hedrick describes it as broad-turbinate.
Stem
Not described in source.
Cavity
Not described in source.
Calyx
Not described in source.
Basin
Not described in source.
Skin
Yellow (Elliott, Downing, Thomas, Hedrick). Hedrick adds that the yellow skin bears specks of russet.
Flesh/Flavor
Flesh rather coarse (Downing; Hedrick; "coarse" — Thomas), but sugary (Downing; Hedrick). Hedrick notes the flavor somewhat resembles that of the Beurré Diel. Thomas characterizes the fruit as "rich." Quality ratings differ: Downing rates it "Poor," while Hedrick rates it "good."
Core/Seeds
Not described in source.
Season
September to October (Elliott; Downing; Hedrick); October (Thomas).
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)COPEA. American. Large, obovate acute pyriform, yellow. September, October.
[Additional entry in this volume: "Copia", pp. 425–425]
COPEA.
American. Large, obovate acute pyriform, yellow. September, October.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)COPIA.
A Philadelphia seedling.
Fruit large. Skin yellow. Flesh rather coarse, but sugary. Poor.
September to October.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Copia. Large, yellow; coarse; rich. October. Phila.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Copia.
- McIntosh Bk. Card. 2:455. 1855. 2. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 571. 1857. 3. Ibid. 729. 1869.
Originated about the middle of last century at Philadelphia. Fruit large, yellow, with specks of russet, broad-turbinate; flesh sugary, rather coarse, somewhat resembling the Beurré Diel in flavor; good; Sept. and Oct.