Des Nonnes
PearDes Nonnes (Pear)
Origin/History
Of foreign origin. Elliott (1865) lists it as a new introduction at the time of writing.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size: Medium.
Form: Turbinate (Elliott); roundish-turbinate, obtuse (Thomas).
Stem: Long, slender (Elliott); long, rather slender, a little curved, slightly sunk at the insertion (Thomas).
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Small, closed (Elliott); rather small, often closed (Thomas).
Basin: Shallow (Elliott); small and wrinkled (Thomas).
Skin: Clear light yellow with many small brown dots (Elliott); greenish-yellow becoming clear yellow with many dots at ripeness (Thomas).
Flesh/Flavor: Whitish, melting, juicy, sweet, and perfumed; rated "very good," perhaps "best" (Elliott). When at perfection, juicy and exceedingly melting, very sweet, perfumed, with an excellent, delicate flavor; quality variable, sometimes quite moderate (Thomas).
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
September.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Illustrated in Thomas as Fig. 722. Thomas's note that quality is variable and sometimes quite moderate is a practical caution absent from Elliott's more favorable assessment — both versions are worth retaining for identification purposes.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Des Nonnes.
Poire des Nonnes, | Beurre de Brignais, | Des Nones.
Foreign. New. Fruit, medium, turbinate, clear light yellow, many small brown dots ; stem, long, slender ; calyx, small, closed ; basin, shallow ; flesh, whitish, melting, juicy, sweet, perfumed ; "very good," perhaps "best." September.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Des Nonnes. (Beurré de Brignais.) Size medium, roundish-turbinate, obtuse; greenish-yellow becoming clear yellow with many dots; stalk long, rather slender, a little curved, slightly sunk; calyx rather small, often closed in a small wrinkled basin; juicy and exceedingly melting when at perfection, very sweet, perfumed, with an excellent, delicate flavor. Variable, sometimes quite moderate. September. Fig. 722.