Durondeau

Pear

Durondeau

Origin/History

Originated from seed with Charles Louis Durandeau, Tongres-Notre-Dame, a village in Hainaut, Belgium, probably about 1825. The variety appears in Belgian pomological literature by 1855 (Annales de Pomologie Belge) and was recorded by the American Pomological Society by 1862.

Tree

Fairly vigorous, pyramidal. An early and abundant bearer.

Fruit

Size and form: Medium large, obovate-pyriform, generally irregular.

Stem: Not described in source.

Cavity: Not described in source.

Calyx: Not described in source.

Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: Thin, covered with fine golden russet, blushed with carmine on the exposed cheek.

Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish-white, buttery, very juicy, vinous, sprightly, with an exquisite aroma and of first quality.

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

October and November.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

The Thomas (1903) entry reads in full: "Durandeau. See De Tongres." — a bare cross-reference with no independent description; no additional detail is recoverable from that source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 6 catalogs (1897–1917) from England

Kelway & Son , Langport, Somerset , England — 1897
George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
Thomas Rivers & Son , Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire , England — 1913
George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914
George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917

View original book sources (2)

Durandeau.

Mag. Hort. 26:129. 1860. 2. Am. Pom. Soc. 111. 1862. De Tongres. 3. Ann. Pom. Belge 3:15, fig. 1855. 4. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 489. 1857.

Originated from seed with Charles Louis Durandeau, Tongres-Notre-Dame, a village in Hainaut, Bel., probably about 1825. Tree fairly vigorous, pyramidal, an early and abundant bearer. Fruit medium large, obovate-pyriform, generally irregular; skin thin, covered with fine golden russet, blushed with carmine on the exposed cheek; flesh yellowish-white, buttery, very juicy, vinous, sprightly, with an exquisite aroma and of first quality; Oct. and Nov.

— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)

Durandeau. See De Tongres.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

Beurre Durandeau Beurre Durondeau Birne von Tongern De Tongres Durandeau Tongre (B. von) Tongre-Notre-Dome (P. de) Tongres (P. de) De Tongres