Leopold Riche

Pear

Leopold Riche

Origin & History: One of M. de Jonghe's seedlings.

Fruit: Rather large. Form described as obtuse obovate pyriform by Downing, while Hedrick gives obovate. Skin yellow, thickly sprinkled with large cinnamon-russet dots. Stalk slender (Downing). Calyx open (Downing). Basin shallow (Downing).

Flesh & Flavor: Rather coarse-grained, crisp. Downing describes the flesh as very juicy, rich, and sweet; Hedrick describes it as buttery and melting, with juice abundant, rich, thick, and sugary. Both sources note a fine almond flavor. Hedrick adds the summary assessment: "a very richly flavored pear."

Season: November.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

View original book sources (2)

LEOPOLD RICHE.

One of M. de Jonghe's seedlings.

Fruit rather large, obtuse obovate pyriform; yellow, thickly dotted with large cinnamon russet dots. Stalk slender. Calyx open. Basin shallow. Flesh rather coarse-grained, crisp, very juicy, rich, sweet, with a fine almond flavor. November. (Hogg.)

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

Leopold Riche.

Downing Fr. Trees Am. 801. 1869. 2. Hogg Fruit Man. 603. 1884.

One of M. de Jonghe's seedlings. Fruit rather large, obovate, yellow, thickly sprinkled with large cinnamon-russet dots; flesh rather coarse-grained, crisp, buttery, melting; juice abundant, rich, thick and sugary, with a fine almond flavor; a very richly flavored pear; Nov.

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