Paul Ambre
PearPaul Ambre
Origin / History
A Belgian variety of unknown origin. Hedrick cites its description in Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, page 830, 1869, and in the "Guide Prat.", page 101, 1876.
Tree
Budd and Hansen state that it is often grown on the quince.
Fruit
Size: Medium.
Form: Roundish or roundish oval (globular or globular-oval, in Hedrick's wording). Thomas calls it obovate, sometimes pyriform.
Stem: Medium.
Cavity: Small.
Calyx: Large and open, with long, broad, recurved segments (Downing).
Basin: Shallow and smooth.
Skin: Pale greenish yellow, often shaded and mottled with crimson on the side next the sun, with markings of russet. The surface is sometimes netted with russet; Budd and Hansen say frequently. Thomas describes the skin as greenish yellow and gray russet.
Dots: Numerous, russet brown, thickly sprinkled over the surface.
Flesh and flavor: Flesh whitish, juicy, buttery, melting, and sweet. Thomas adds aromatic. Downing and Hedrick rate it "good to very good." Budd and Hansen, condensing Downing, call it "very good."
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
October.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Hedrick describes it as resembling Nee Plus Meuris.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Paul Ambre.
The origin of this Belgian variety is unknown.
Fruit medium, roundish or roundish oval, pale greenish yellow, often shaded and mottled with crimson in the sun, sometimes netted with russet, and thickly sprinkled with russet brown dots. Stalk medium, set in a small cavity. Calyx large, open, with long, broad, recurved segments. Basin shallow, smooth. Flesh whitish, juicy, buttery, melting, sweet. Good to very good. October.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Paul Ambre. Medium, obovate, sometimes pyriform, greenish-yellow and gray russet; buttery, melting, aromatic. October.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Paul Ambre.— Medium, roundish, or roundish oval; color greenish yellow, often shaded and mottled with crimson in the sun, and frequently the surface is netted with russet and numerous russet dots; stem medium, set in small cavity; basin shallow, smooth. Flesh whitish, juicy, buttery, melting, sweet, very good. Season, October. Often grown on the quince. Belgium.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Paul Ambre.
- Downing Fr. Trees Am. 830. 1869. 2. Guide Prat. 101. 1876.
A Belgian variety resembling Nee Plus Meuris; origin unknown. Fruit globular or globular-oval, pale greenish-yellow, shaded with crimson on the side next the sun, dots and markings of russet; flesh whitish, buttery, melting, juicy, sweet; good to very good; Oct.