Passe Colmar Musqué
PearPasse Colmar Musqué
Origin / History
Obtained by Major Esperen of Mechlin (Malines), Belgium, from a bed of mixed seeds he made about 1831. The variety yielded its first fruit and was published in 1845 (Hedrick). Passe Colmar Musqué is also known as Autumn Colmar but is distinct from the variety most usually known by that name (Hedrick).
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium, and sometimes less than medium (Hedrick). Form rather variable: Downing describes it as ranging from roundish oblate to roundish ovate pyriform; Hedrick describes it as turbinate, otherwise obtuse-conic.
Stem: Rather short (Downing).
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Small, partially closed (Downing).
Basin: Shallow, uneven (Downing).
Skin: Thick but tender (Hedrick). Ground color green, changing to golden-yellow at maturity (Hedrick); Downing describes the ground as greenish yellow. Surface netted, mottled, and patched with russet — Downing describes the russet simply as russet; Hedrick specifies pale cinnamon-russet. Thickly sprinkled with green and brown dots (Downing); Hedrick notes general dotting. The side exposed to the sun is often washed with a light, transparent red (Hedrick; not mentioned by Downing).
Flesh / Flavor: The two sources give slightly conflicting flesh colors: Downing describes the flesh as white; Hedrick as slightly yellowish. Both agree the flesh is melting. Downing further characterizes it as very buttery and juicy, with a pleasant perfume. Hedrick describes it as very fine, very saccharine, richly flavored, aromatic, and scented. Quality rated "Good" by Downing and "first" by Hedrick.
Core / Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
The two sources give conflicting ripening months: Downing places it in October; Hedrick places it in November.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
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.