Épine d'Été
PearÉpine d'Été
Origin/History
An old pear grown in the gardens of the Monastery of Chartreux, Paris. The catalog of that institution, dated 1736, stated it to be identical with the pear Bugiarda of Italy; Leroy has shown this to be an error, the Bugiarda being the pear known in France as Trompeur. Le Lectier appears to have grown it in 1628 in his famous gardens at Orleans, though under the name Poire d'Espine. (Hedrick)
Tree
Moderately vigorous, spreading, productive. (Downing)
Fruit
Size: Downing and Thomas give the size as medium; Hedrick gives it as above medium.
Form: Pyriform, more or less obtuse. (All three sources agree on pyriform; Hedrick adds "more or less obtuse.")
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Downing and Thomas describe the skin as greenish yellow. Hedrick describes it as bright green, finely dotted with gray-russet, and lightly colored with tender rose on the side of the sun.
Flesh/Flavor: Flesh yellowish (Hedrick), tender (Downing), fine (Hedrick), melting, juicy (Hedrick), sugary and musky (Hedrick); sweet, musky, and of a peculiar flavor (Downing).
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Downing gives the season as the last of August and first of September; Thomas gives early September; Hedrick gives September.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Quality rated as "Good" by Downing; Hedrick calls it a "moderately good" autumn pear. References: Leroy, Dict. Pom. 2:138, fig. (1869); Downing, Fr. Trees Am. 758 (1869).
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Epine d'Ete.
Summer Thorn. Petite Epine d'Ete. Fondante Musquee. Bugiarda. Satin Vert. Bugiarda des Italiens.
Tree moderately vigorous, spreading, productive.
Fruit medium, pyriform. Skin greenish yellow. Flesh tender, melting, with a sweet, musky, peculiar flavor. Good. Last of August and first of September.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Épine d'Été.
- Leroy Dict. Pom. 2:138, fig. 1869.
- Downing Fr. Trees Am. 758. 1869. An old pear grown in the gardens of the Monastery of Chartreux, Paris, and stated in the catalog of that institution, of 1736, to be identical with the pear Bugiarda of Italy. This Leroy has shown to be an error, the Bugiarda being the pear known in France as Trompeur. Le Lectier appears to have grown it in 1628 in his famous gardens at Orleans, though under the name of Poire d'Espine. Fruit above medium, pyriform, more or less obtuse, bright green, finely dotted with gray-russet and lightly colored with tender rose on the side of the sun; flesh yellowish, fine, melting, juicy, sugary and musky; a moderately good autumn pear; Sept.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Épine d'Été. (Summer Thorn.) Medium, pyriform, greenish-yellow; melting, sweet, musky. Early September.