Countess of Lunay

Origin/History

Foreign (European) origin. The variety has been much disseminated under the name "Doyenné d'Eté," with which it was widely confused.

Tree

Vigorous. Very productive when grown on Quince rootstock. Not described in source regarding bark, twigs, lenticels, buds, or leaves.

Fruit

Size and Form

Medium in size. Elliott describes the shape as roundish obovate; Thomas describes it as obovate-pyriform and somewhat conic. Both agree on a broadly obovate character.

Stem

Long (Thomas gives approximately an inch and a half), and largest where it joins the tree (Elliott). Set without depression, resting on the rounded point of the neck (Thomas). Elliott notes the cavity is slight, sometimes with a small lip on one side of the stem; Thomas describes the neck as slightly russeted at the point where the stalk is set.

Cavity

Slight; often with a small lip on one side of the stem (Elliott). Thomas describes the fruit as set without depression on the neck, implying a minimal or absent cavity, consistent with Elliott's characterization.

Calyx

Large, open, with long reflexed segments (Elliott). Not described in detail by Thomas beyond the basin.

Basin

Very small and even (Thomas). Elliott does not separately describe the basin but notes the calyx as large and open.

Skin

Smooth. Pale yellow in both sources; Elliott specifies "pale yellow," Thomas "pale waxen yellow." A thin red cheek or blush is present on the sun-exposed side (Thomas; Elliott describes this as "often thinly sprinkled with red in sun"). Elliott additionally notes some russet specks on the skin and russet at the base of the stem; Thomas notes slight russeting at the neck near the stalk.

Flesh and Flavor

White. Melting and very juicy in both sources. Elliott describes the texture as "rather coarse, melting, juicy"; Thomas describes it as "very juicy, melting, fine" — the two sources differ slightly on texture, Elliott noting a degree of coarseness while Thomas characterizes it as fine. Both sources rate the flavor as "very good."

Core and Seeds

Core medium (Elliott). Seeds brown (Elliott). Not described in detail by Thomas.

Season

Mid-autumn. Elliott gives October specifically; Thomas states "mid-autumn," consistent with October.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

The variety was widely confused with and disseminated under the name "Doyenné d'Eté" (Elliott). This historical misidentification may be relevant when tracing specimens under that name in older plantings or nursery records.