Léon Rey
PearLéon Rey
Origin/History
In 1856, M. Rey of Toulouse, France, sowed seeds of the best French pears; the following year he selected the most promising seedlings, one of which received the name Léon Rey. The variety is also known as Beurré Léon Rey (Downing). Referenced in Leroy, Dict. Pom. 2:336, fig. 1869.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium, and sometimes rather larger (Hedrick). Roundish pyriform (Downing); more precisely described as turbinate, very round in its lower part and conic-obtuse at the top (Hedrick).
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Golden-yellow, finely dotted and stained with fawn, and nearly always washed with tender rose on the face exposed to the sun.
Flesh and Flavor: Flesh very white and fine, melting, free from grit; juice very abundant, sugary, acidulous, having a delicious flavor. Quality rated first.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Downing gives August; Hedrick gives October. These accounts conflict and may reflect different regional conditions or different strains.
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)Leon Rey.
Beurré Leon Rey.
A new variety, obtained by Rey at Toulouse.
Fruit medium size, roundish pyriform. Flesh melting, juicy. August. (Leroy.)
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Léon Rey.
i. Leroy Dict. Pom. 2:336, fig. 1869.
In 1856, M. Rey, Toulouse, Fr., sowed seeds of the best French pears, and in the following year selected the most promising seedlings, one of which received the name Léon Rey. Fruit medium and sometimes rather larger, turbinate, very round in its lower part, and conic-obtuse at the top, golden-yellow, finely dotted and stained with fawn and nearly always washed with tender rose on the face exposed to the sun; flesh very white and fine, melting, free from grit; juice very abundant, sugary, acidulous, having a delicious flavor; first; Oct.