Deux Têtes
PearDeux Têtes
Origin and History
One of the most ancient pears cultivated in France. Charles Estienne described it in 1530 in his Seminarium, under the names Pyra Bicipitia or Poire à Deux-Testes (French: "pear with two heads"). The variety takes its name from its distinguishing characteristic: a large and oval calyx situated on two prominences on the fruit.
Fruit
Size and Form: Small to medium; globular, somewhat turbinate.
Skin: Pale yellowish-green in the shade; blushed on the side next the sun.
Flesh and Flavor: White, coarse, breaking texture, juicy. Slightly perfumed, but often having an unpleasant acidity. Indifferent dessert fruit.
Calyx: Large and oval, placed on two prominences (the defining feature of the variety).
Season
August.
Tree
Not described in source.
Uses
Indifferent dessert fruit (suggests marginal quality for fresh eating; likely used for cooking or perry rather than premium table fruit).
Sources cited in original:
- Duhamel Trait. Arb. Fr. 2:244 (1768)
- Leroy Diet. Pom. 2:23, fig. (1869)
- Liegel Syst. Anleit. 162 (1825)
- Mathieu Norn. Pom. 303 (1889)
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
View original book sources (1)
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Deux Têtes.
- Duhamel Trait. Arb. Fr. 2:244. 1768.
- Leroy Diet. Pom. 2:23, fig. 1869. Zwibotzenbirne.
- Liegel Syst. Anleit. 162. 1825.
- Mathieu Norn. Pom. 303. 1889.
One of the most ancient pears cultivated in France. Charles Estienne described it in 1530 in his Seminarium, under the name Pyra Bicipitia or Poire a Deux-Testes. It takes its name from its large and oval calyx being placed on two prominences. Fruit small to medium, globular, somewhat turbinate, pale yellowish-green in the shade, blushed on the side next the sun; flesh white, coarse, breaking, juicy, slightly perfumed, but often having an unpleasant acidity; an indifferent dessert fruit; Aug.