Passe Colmar Musqué
PearPasse Colmar Musqué
Origin / History
Raised by Major Esperen of Malines (Mechlin), Belgium, from a bed of mixed seeds he made about 1831. It yielded its first fruit and was published in 1845. Also known as Autumn Colmar, but distinct from the variety most usually known by that name (Hedrick).
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size: Medium, and sometimes less (Hedrick).
Form: Turbinate, otherwise obtuse-conic, rather variable in form (Hedrick); varying from roundish oblate to roundish ovate pyriform (Downing).
Stem: Rather short.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Small, partially closed.
Basin: Shallow, uneven.
Skin: Thick, tender; green changing to golden-yellow (Hedrick), described by Downing as greenish yellow. Netted and patched with russet (Downing); mottled and patched with pale cinnamon-russet (Hedrick). Often washed on the side next the sun with a light transparent red (Hedrick).
Dots: Thickly sprinkled with green and brown dots (Downing); dotted (Hedrick).
Flesh and flavor: Flesh white (Downing) or slightly yellowish (Hedrick); very fine, very buttery, juicy, melting. Pleasant perfumed (Downing); very saccharine, richly flavored, aromatic and scented (Hedrick). Quality "Good" (Downing); "first" (Hedrick).
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
October (Downing); November (Hedrick).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
References cited by Hedrick: Ann. Pom. Belge 5:45, fig. (1857); Hogg, Fruit Man. 627 (1884).
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900) — listed as Passe-Colmar Musque
- Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Passe-Colmar Musque.
Colmar Musque. Passe-Colmar Musque d'Automne.
Raised by Major Esperen of Malines.
Fruit medium size, varying from roundish oblate to roundish ovate pyriform, greenish yellow, netted and patched with russet, and thickly sprinkled with green and brown dots. Stalk rather short. Calyx small, partially closed. Basin shallow, uneven. Flesh white, very buttery, juicy, melting, pleasant perfumed. Good. October.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Passe Colmar Musqué.
- Ann. Pom. Belge 5:45, fig. 1857. 2. Hogg Fruit Man. 627. 1884.
Obtained by Major Esperen, Mechlin, Bel., from a bed of mixed seeds he made about 1831. It yielded its first fruit and was published in 1845. Passe Colmar Musqué is also known as Autumn Colmar but is distinct from the variety most usually known by that name. Fruit medium and sometimes less, turbinate, otherwise obtuse-conic, rather variable in form; skin thick, tender, green changing to golden-yellow, dotted, mottled and patched with pale cinnamon-russet and often washed on the side next the sun with a light transparent red; flesh slightly yellowish, very fine, melting, very saccharine, richly flavored, aromatic and scented; first; Nov.