Marie Parent
PearOrigin/History
Raised by Bivort, director of the nurseries of the Society Van Mons at Geest-Saint-Rémy, Belgium, from a seed bed formed in 1844 from seeds of the last generation of Van Mons' seedlings. According to Downing, it first fruited in 1851.
Tree
Moderately vigorous. Young wood dull grayish-reddish brown (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Described as medium by Downing, above medium by Hedrick, and large by both Elliott and Thomas. The weight of evidence suggests a medium-to-large pear.
Form: Downing describes the shape as obovate pyriform to obovate acute pyriform. Hedrick describes it as oblong, more or less cylindrical and bossed, or turbinate, very much swelled at the base and bossed at either extremity. Elliott describes it as pyriform with an uneven surface. Thomas simply says pyriform.
Stem: Medium length, generally inserted without cavity (Downing). Short, inclined (Elliott).
Cavity: Downing states the stalk is generally inserted without cavity. Elliott describes the calyx as set in a large furrowed cavity.
Calyx: Large, open (Downing). Elliott places the calyx in a large furrowed cavity.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Greenish yellow, with a shade of red in the sun, and traces of russet, and many minute brown dots (Downing). Hedrick describes the skin as fine ochre or golden yellow, dotted and stained with russet, washed with brick-red on the cheek next the sun. Elliott says golden yellow at maturity. Thomas says rich yellow.
Flesh/Flavor: Whitish, juicy, vinous; rated "Good" by Downing. Hedrick describes the flesh as white, fine, melting or semi-melting, containing numerous small grits around the core, juicy, sugary, vinous, perfumed; rated "first." Elliott describes white flesh, very fine, melting, somewhat buttery, very juicy, sugary, and deliciously perfumed. Thomas says juicy, rich, perfumed; rated "very good."
Core/Seeds: Hedrick notes numerous small grits around the core. No other source describes the core or seeds.
Season
September (Downing). October, often till December (Hedrick). October (Elliott and Thomas).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Marie Parent.
Sophia Beekmans. Roussellet de Meester. Ferdinand de Meester.
Raised by M. Bivort, in 1844, from seeds of the last generation of Van Mons' seedlings. It first fruited in 1851. Tree moderately vigorous. Young wood dull grayish-reddish brown.
Fruit medium, obovate pyriform to obovate acute pyriform, greenish yellow, with shade of red in the sun, and traces of russet, and many minute brown dots. Stalk medium, generally inserted without cavity. Calyx large, open. Flesh whitish, juicy, vinous. Good. September.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Marie Parent.
- Leroy Dict. Pom. 2:401, fig. 1869.
- Downing Fr. Trees Am. 814. 1869.
Raised by Bivort, director of the nurseries of the Society Van Mons at Geest-Saint-Rémy, Bel., from a seed bed formed in 1844 from seeds of the last generation of Van Mons' seedlings. Fruit above medium, oblong, more or less cylindrical and bossed, or turbinate, very much swelled at the base and bossed at either extremity; skin fine ochre or golden yellow, dotted and stained with russet, washed with brick-red on the cheek next the sun; flesh white, fine, melting or semi-melting, containing numerous small grits around the core, juicy, sugary, vinous, perfumed; first; Oct., often till Dec.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Marie Parent. Foreign. Tree, moderately vigorous. Fruit, large pyriform, surface uneven ; stalk, short, inclined ; calyx, in a large furrowed cavity : skin, golden yellow at maturity; flesh, white, very fine, melting, somewhat buttery, very juicy, sugary, and deliciously perfumed. October. (An Pom.)
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Marie Parent. Large, pyriform, rich yellow; juicy, rich, perfumed; very good. October. Belgian.