Pigeon

Apple

USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection

Pigeon Apple

Origin/History

Imported from France; classed by Coxe as a species of the Reinette. Downing notes it as an old apple, citing Ronalds's description. Among the alternate names associated with it are Jerusalem, Cœur de Pigeon, Pigeon Rouge, Gros Coeur de Pigeon, Passe Pomme, Duif Apfel, Pother Taubenapfel, and Arabian Apple.

Tree

Coxe describes growth as tall and upright. Downing, citing Ronalds, characterizes the tree as a free but not robust grower.

Fruit

Size: Medium (both sources agree).

Form: The sources conflict. Coxe describes the form as round; Downing describes it as oblong conical.

Stem: Not described in source.

Cavity: Not described in source.

Calyx: Not described in source.

Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: Coxe describes the skin as yellow, rough, with small dots. Downing describes the color as straw, flushed with red in the sun; no mention of texture or dots.

Flesh/Flavor: The sources give differing characterizations. Coxe describes the flesh as rich, firm, and sprightly. Downing describes it as white, delicate, crisp, and of pleasant subacid flavor.

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

Coxe states it ripens in November, hangs well on the tree, and keeps late. Downing gives the season as December to February.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 1 catalog (1901) from Illinois

Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901

View original book sources (2)

NO. 109. PIGEON.

Imported from France: it is a species of the Reinette—a very fair apple, of middling size; the form round—the skin yellow; rough, with small dots: the flesh rich, firm, and sprightly—it ripens in November, hangs well, and keeps late: the growth of the tree tall and upright.

— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)

Pigeon.

Jerusalem. Cœur de Pigeon. Pigeon Rouge. Gros Coeur de Pigeon. Passe Pomme. Duif Apfel. Pother Taubenapfel. Arabian Apple.

This old Apple is described by Ronalds as a free but not robust grower.

Fruit medium, oblong conical, straw color, flushed with red in the sun. Flesh white, delicate, crisp, pleasant subacid. December to February.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Arabian Apple Cœur de Pigeon Duif Apfel Gros Coeur de Pigeon Jerusalem Passe Pomme Pigeon Rouge Pother Taubenapfel Red Winter Calville Summer Red Calville Summer White Calville Violette