Duchesse d'Arenberg
PearDuchesse d'Arenberg
Origin/History
Distributed from the Royal Nurseries at Vilvorde-lez-Bruxelles without mention of origin; its name suggests Belgium (Hedrick). Downing classes it as a French pear. Documented in Leroy, Dict. Pom. 2:103, fig. (1869) and Mas, Pom. Gen. 7:35, fig. 498 (1881).
Tree
A vigorous grower and early bearer (Downing). Not further described in sources.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium, and often larger (Hedrick). The two sources disagree on shape: Downing describes the form as roundish obtuse pyriform; Hedrick describes it as turbinate-obtuse-oblate.
Stem: Long, slender, curved, set in a broad, rather deep cavity (Downing).
Cavity: Broad, rather deep (Downing).
Calyx: Partially closed (Downing).
Basin: Shallow (Downing).
Skin: The sources conflict on color. Downing describes the fruit as dull greenish. Hedrick describes it as greenish-yellow, passing to bright green on the side exposed to sun, dotted with gray-russet.
Flesh and Flavor: Both sources agree the flesh is coarse. Downing describes it as whitish, tender, and juicy, rating it Good. Hedrick describes the flesh as yellowish, melting, juicy, and gritty around the core, with a flavor that is sugary, perfumed, and rather sour, rating the variety second quality.
Core/Seeds: Flesh is gritty around the core (Hedrick). Seeds not described in source.
Season
The sources conflict: Downing gives September; Hedrick gives August.
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)Duchesse d'Aremberg.
A French Pear, the fruit of which we have seen but once. Tree a vigorous grower and early bearer.
Fruit medium, roundish obtuse pyriform, dull greenish. Stalk long, slender, curved, set in a broad, rather deep cavity. Calyx partially closed. Basin shallow. Flesh whitish, rather coarse, tender, juicy. Good. September.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Duchesse d'Arenberg.
- Leroy Diet. Pom. 2:103, fig. 1869.
- Mas Pom. Gen. 7:35, fig. 498. 1881.
Although distributed from the Royal Nurseries at Vilvorde-lez-Bruxelles without mention of origin its name suggests Belgium. Fruit medium and often larger, turbinate-obtuse-oblate, greenish-yellow passing to bright green on the side of the sun, dotted with gray-russet; flesh yellowish, coarse, melting, juicy, gritty around the core; sugary, perfumed, rather sour; second; Aug.