Crassane
PearOrigin & History
An ancient pear of obscure origin. In the middle of the seventeenth century it was introduced for cultivation in France by La Quintinye, gardener to King Louis XIV, and has been cultivated since at least 1667. It appears to have derived its name from the Latin word crassus, which signifies "thick." Some authorities have suggested it was named after the celebrated Roman Consul Marcus Lucinius Crassus who, with Julius Caesar and Pompey, formed the first triumvirate, and who died 53 B.C. The balance of authority is in favor of its having had a French origin. By Belgian and some French and German writers it is known as the Bergamotte Crassane. Hedrick describes it as "a dessert pear of formerly high reputation but rather superseded."
Tree
Hardy, vigorous, and productive. Young wood light reddish (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Medium to large (Downing); medium and above (Hedrick); large (Elliott); medium (Thomas).
Form: Roundish oblate (Downing). Globular, bossed, flattened at extremities (Hedrick). Roundish (Elliott, Thomas).
Skin: Yellow, rarely with a blush, dotted with russet dots (Downing). Bright greenish-yellow, veined and dotted with fawn (Hedrick). Greenish yellow with thin russet (Elliott). Greenish-yellow (Thomas).
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Flesh & Flavor: Coarse, rather dry, sweet, pleasant; rated Good (Downing). Buttery, melting, tender, of a rich sugary flavor and perfume (Hedrick). Juicy, sweet, moderately pleasant (Thomas).
Core & Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
October, November (Downing). October to December (Hedrick). October (Elliott, Thomas).
Uses
A dessert pear (Hedrick).
Subtypes & Variants
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 5 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Crassane.
Bergamotte Crassane. Cresane. Bergamotte Crassane d'Automne. Beurre Plat. Flat Butter. Crassane d'Automne.
An old variety, cultivated as long ago as 1667. Tree hardy, vigorous, and productive. Young wood light reddish.
Fruit medium to large, roundish oblate. Skin yellow, rarely with a blush, dotted with russet dots. Flesh coarse, rather dry, sweet, pleasant. Good. October, November.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Crassane.
- Duhamel Trait. Arb. Fr. 2:166, Pl. XXII. 1768.
- Downing Fr. Trees Am. 728. 1869. Bergamotte Crassane.
- Ann. Pom. Belge 2:61, fig. 1854.
- Leroy Did. Pom. 1:231, fig. 1867.
An ancient pear of obscure origin. In the middle of the seventeenth century it was introduced for cultivation in France by La Quintinye, gardener to King Louis XIV. It appears to have derived its name from the Latin word crassus which signifies thick. Some authorities have suggested it was named after the celebrated Roman Consul Marcus Lucinius Crassus who, with Julius Caesar and Pompey, formed the first triumvirate, and who died 53 B. C. The balance of authority is in favor of its having had a French origin. By Belgian and some French and German writers it is known as the Bergamotte Crassane.
Fruit medium and above, globular, bossed, flattened at extremities, bright greenish-yellow, veined and dotted with fawn; flesh buttery, melting, tender, of a rich sugary flavor and perfume; a dessert pear of formerly high reputation but rather superseded; Oct. to Dec.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Crasanne.
Bergamot Crasanne, | Cresane, | Beurré Plat.
Foreign. Large, roundish, greenish yellow, thin russet. October.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Crassane. Medium, roundish, greenish-yellow; juicy, sweet, moderately pleasant. October.