Lucie Audusson

Lucie Audusson (Pear)

Origin/History

Raised by Alexis Audusson (also spelled "Andusson" by Downing) of Angers, France. First published in 1861; cited in Pomologie de la France vol. 4, No. 172, Pl. 172 (1865).

Tree

Vigorous, upright, somewhat spreading, moderately productive. (Downing; Hedrick provides no tree description.)

Fruit

Size and Form: The two sources conflict substantially. Downing describes the fruit as medium or above, roundish pyriform, obtuse. Hedrick describes it as large, long, nearly cylindrical, obtuse and slightly narrowed toward the stem.

Stem: Medium length, inclined. (Downing; Hedrick not described.)

Cavity: Small. (Downing; Hedrick not described.)

Calyx: Open. (Downing; Hedrick not described.)

Basin: Rather shallow, slightly corrugated. (Downing; Hedrick not described.)

Skin: The two sources conflict. Downing describes the skin as pale yellow, much netted and patched with russet, with many small russet dots. Hedrick describes it as grass-green, finely dotted and speckled with fawn-colored russet.

Flesh and Flavor: The sources largely agree on texture but differ in detail. Downing: white, fine, juicy, melting, sweet, rich, slightly aromatic. Hedrick: yellowish-white (flesh color), fine or semi-fine, melting; juice abundant, sugary, vinous, delicately perfumed. Hedrick rates quality as first.

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

The two sources conflict. Downing gives the last of October and the first of November. Hedrick gives mid-November to end of December.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

The conflicts between Downing and Hedrick — in shape (roundish pyriform vs. long nearly cylindrical), size (medium vs. large), skin color (pale yellow with heavy russet netting vs. grass-green with fine fawn speckling), and ripening season (late October–early November vs. mid-November–December) — are substantial enough that the two descriptions may not be for the same variety, or Downing may have been describing a distinct strain or a mislabeled specimen. Hedrick's citation to Pomologie de la France with a specific plate number (172) is the more authoritative provenance. Both descriptions are retained here; the Hedrick account should be treated as primary where they conflict.