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Grand Bretagne

Pear

Grand Bretagne

Origin/History

Of French or Belgian origin. Known since at least 1771, when it was documented by Knoop (Fructologie 1:83, Tab. II). Referenced by Downing in 1869. The alternate name Great Britain appears in early pomological literature.

Tree

Not described in source.

Fruit

Size: The sources conflict. Downing describes the fruit as medium or below; Hedrick describes it as large.

Form: The sources partly conflict. Downing gives the shape as obovate acute pyriform; Hedrick describes it as obtuse-obovate.

Stem: Not described in source.

Cavity: Not described in source.

Calyx: Not described in source.

Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: The sources conflict. Downing describes the skin as pale yellow, shaded and mottled with red on the sun-exposed side, with nettings and patches of russet and russet dots. Hedrick describes it as greenish-yellow, dotted with brown.

Flesh/Flavor: The sources conflict substantially. Downing describes the flesh as yellowish, coarse, gritty, juicy, and sweet, rating it "not quite good." Hedrick describes it as fine, juicy, buttery, and melting, rating it moderately good.

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

December through February (Hedrick). Downing gives January through February.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

View original book sources (2)

Grand Bretagne.

Great Britain.

Supposed of Belgian origin.

Fruit medium or below, obovate acute pyriform, pale yellow, shaded and mottled with red in the sun, nettings and patches of russet, and russet dots. Flesh yellowish, coarse, gritty, juicy, sweet. Not quite good. January, February.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Grand Bretagne.

  1. Knoop Fructologie 1:83, Tab. II. 1771.
  2. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 774. 1869.

Origin French or Belgian. Fruit large, obtuse-obovate, greenish-yellow, dotted with brown; flesh fine, juicy, buttery and melting; moderately good; Dec. to Feb.

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