SOUVERAINE D'ÉTÉ

SOUVERAINE D'ÉTÉ

Origin/History

Not described in source.

Tree

Not described in source.

Fruit

Size: Desportes gives the size as medium; Downing gives it as below medium.

Form: Roundish obovate, with Downing adding pyriform to the characterization.

Stem: Short. Desportes notes it is inserted a little to one side. Downing places it in a narrow cavity, frequently accompanied by a lip.

Cavity: Desportes describes the stem depression as slight, with no pronounced depression. Downing specifies the cavity as narrow, frequently lipped.

Calyx: Desportes describes it as open and medium-sized; Downing describes it as partially closed. Both place it in a moderately deep to medium basin.

Basin: Moderately deep (Desportes); medium (Downing).

Skin: Light yellow — Desportes gives the color as lemon yellow, traced and dotted with light russet, and frequently with a bright red cheek on the sunny side. Downing describes it as light yellow with numerous dots, which are crimson on the sunny side. Downing does not mention russet tracings; Desportes does not describe the dots as crimson specifically.

Flesh: Melting, tender, and juicy (Desportes). Downing adds that the flesh is whitish, and describes it as juicy, melting, sugary, and aromatic.

Flavor: Sprightly, a little vinous, and rich (Desportes). Downing gives it as sugary, vinous, and aromatic. Both sources agree on the vinous character.

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

Ripens the last of August (Desportes) to the first of September (Downing).

Uses

Described as a handsome fruit (Desportes). Quality rated "very good" by Desportes and "Good" by Downing.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.