Doyenne de Saumur
PearDoyenne de Saumur
Origin/History
A French pear of uncertain origin, known in the districts of Saumur and Lyons early in the nineteenth century. (Hedrick, citing Leroy, Dict. Pom. 2:84, fig., 1869.)
Tree
Vigorous. Young wood grayish olive. (Downing.)
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium or below. Form is very variable, ranging from ovate-elongated to turbinate-obtuse, bossed and swelled. (Hedrick.) Downing describes the form as roundish ovate.
Stem: Medium length, curved. (Downing.)
Calyx: Open. (Downing.)
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Downing describes the color as pale whitish yellow, thickly sprinkled with large green and brown dots. Hedrick describes it as pale greenish-yellow, dotted with gray-russet especially on the side next the sun.
Flesh/Flavor: White, very fine, melting, juicy, perfumed, with an after-taste of musk. (Hedrick.) Downing describes the flesh as white, juicy, melting, sweet, and pleasant, rating the fruit good to very good. Hedrick rates it first quality.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
September.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)DOYENNÉ DE SAUMUR.
Tree vigorous. Young wood grayish olive.
Fruit medium or below, roundish ovate. Skin pale whitish yellow, thickly sprinkled with large green and brown dots. Stalk medium, curved. Calyx open. Flesh white, juicy, melting, sweet, pleasant. Good to very good. September.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Doyenne de Saumur.
- Leroy Diet. Pom. 2:84, fig. 1869. A French pear of uncertain origin but known in the districts of Saumur and Lyons early in the nineteenth century. Fruit medium and below, very variable in form, from ovate-elongated to turbinate-obtuse, bossed and swelled, pale greenish-yellow, dotted with gray-russet especially on the side next the sun; flesh white, very fine, melting, juicy, perfumed, having an after-taste of musk; first; Sept.