Saint Menin
PearSaint Menin
Origin/History
Known in America as early as 1846 under the name Saint Menin. Also received in America from Leroy about 1855 under the name Omer-Pacha (Hedrick). Downing lists additional synonyms Bis Poiteau and Poire His in historical context.
Tree
A vigorous grower. Young wood grayish olive (Downing). Not further described in sources.
Fruit
Size and Form: Rather large, obovate-obtuse pyriform (Downing describes the form as obovate obtuse pyriform; Hedrick as simply obovate-obtuse).
Stem: Short (Downing).
Cavity: Deep (Downing).
Calyx: Closed (Downing).
Basin: Abrupt (Downing).
Skin: Pale yellow, slightly brown in the sun, netted and patched with russet, and thickly dotted with conspicuous russet dots.
Flesh and Flavor: Flesh whitish and melting. Downing describes it as juicy, sweet, and slightly aromatic, rating it Good to Very Good. Hedrick describes the flesh as fine, the juice abundant, saccharine, and vinous, with a delicate aroma, rating it first quality.
Season
September.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Saint Menin.
Omer Pacha. Bis Poiteau. Poire His.
Tree a vigorous grower. Young wood grayish olive.
Fruit rather large, obovate obtuse pyriform. Skin pale yellow, slightly brown in the sun, netted and patched with russet, and thickly dotted with conspicuous russet dots. Stalk short. Cavity deep. Calyx closed. Basin abrupt. Flesh whitish, juicy, melting, sweet, slightly aromatic. Good to very good. September.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Saint Menin.
- Mag. Hort. 22:231, fig. 16. 1856.
- Mas Le Verger 2:187, fig. 2. 1866-73. Omer-Pacha.
- Mag. Hort. 21:87. 1855.
- Leroy Diet. Pom. 2:478, fig. 1869.
Received in America from Leroy about 1855 under the name Omer-Pacha. It was known, however, as early as 1846 in this country under the name of Saint Menin. Fruit rather large, obovate-obtuse, pale yellow, slightly brown in the sun, netted and patched with russet, and thickly dotted with conspicuous russet dots; flesh whitish, fine, melting; juice abundant, saccharine, vinous, with a delicate aroma; first; Sept.