Widow

Pear

Widow Pear

Origin/History

Desportes (1856) states the origin is unknown. Elliott (1865) lists it as "Foreign." Elliott also records the alternate name Wredow.

Tree

The tree is of medium growth (Desportes) or moderately vigorous (Elliott), pyramidal in shape with straight branches (Desportes). The wood is short and stout (Desportes) and yellowish in color (Elliott). Very productive (Desportes).

Fruit

Size and Form: Medium in size. The two sources describe the form differently: Desportes characterizes it as regularly turbinate (top-shaped), while Elliott describes it as oblong obovate, acute pyriform.

Stem: Slender (Desportes) or medium (Elliott); obliquely inserted at the surface (Desportes), obliquely planted with a lip on one side (Elliott).

Cavity: Not described in source.

Calyx: Small (Elliott).

Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: Thin (Desportes). Color is yellowish green (Desportes) or greenish yellow (Elliott), covered over approximately half the surface with dark gray spots, grayer on the sunny side (Desportes). Desportes notes the coloration resembles that of Beurre d'Angleterre.

Flesh and Flavor: Flesh white (both sources), very melting and buttery (Desportes). Juice abundant (Desportes) and the flesh juicy (Elliott). Flavor slightly acidulous or vinous (Desportes), vinous (Elliott), agreeably perfumed and highly flavored (Desportes), perfumed (Elliott).

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

End of September and October (Desportes); October (Elliott).

Uses

Desportes rates it a delicious, first-rate pear, writing that he does not know another equally good at that season, which he notes is a period when many varieties are ripening simultaneously. Elliott rates it "very good."

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

View original book sources (2)

II. WIDOW PEAR.—The trees of this variety are of medium growth, pyramidal shaped, straight branched the wood is short stout; very productive; fruit—of medium size, regularly turbinate; the stem is slender, and obliquely inserted at the surface; color—yellowish green, covered over about half of the surface with dark gray spots, grayer on the sunny side. It resembles the color of Beurre d'Angleterre; skin—thin; flesh—white, very melting, buttery; juice—abundant, slightly acidulous or vinous in flavor; agreeably perfumed and highly flavored. It is a delicious, first rate pear, and I do not know another equally good at this season, where we have so many kinds in ripening,—end of September and October. I do not know its origin.

— B. Desportes, The Horticulturist (1856)

Widow. Wredow. Foreign. Tree, moderately vigorous; wood, yellowish. Fruit, medium, oblong obovate, acute pyriform, greenish yellow; stem, medium, obliquely planted with lip one side; calyx, small; flesh, white, juicy, vinous, perfumed; "very good." October.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Carl Van Mons Leckerbissen Poire de la Veuve Wredaw Wredow Delices de Charles Wredow Delices Charles Van Mons