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Pyrus pyrifolia - (Burm.f.)Nakai.                
                 
Common Name Sand Pear
Family Rosaceae
Synonyms P. serotina. Rehd.
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Warm rainy regions at elevations of 100 - 1400 metres in China[266]. Naturalized in low mountains and around villages in C. and S. Japan[58].
Range E. Asia - China.
Edibility Rating  
Medicinal Rating  
Care
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun

Summary       

Physical Characteristics       
 icon of manicon of lolypop
Pyrus pyrifolia is a deciduous Tree growing to 10 m (32ft 10in).
It is hardy to zone 6 and is not frost tender. It is in flower in April, and the seeds ripen in September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.


Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.
Pyrus pyrifolia Sand Pear


http://www.flickr.com/photos/neepster/
Pyrus pyrifolia Sand Pear
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Fir0002
   
Habitats       
Woodland Garden Canopy; Secondary;
Edible Uses                                         
Edible Parts: Fruit.
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw or cooked. Hard and gritty[11]. Firm crisp and juicy when fully ripe, they are eaten out of hand or used in fruit salads, pies or baked etc[183]. The fruit is up to 3cm long[200]. Up to 5cm in another report[194]. The average yield from wild trees in the Himalayas is 83kg per year, though some trees yield up to 200kg[194]. The fruit contains about 4.9% sugars, 3.2% protein, 0.9% pectin[194].
Medicinal Uses


Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Antiseptic;  Astringent;  Febrifuge;  Nervine;  Pectoral.

Antiseptic, astringent, febrifuge, nervine, pectoral[178].
Other Uses
None known
Cultivation details                                         
Prefers a good well-drained loam in full sun[200]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Tolerates light shade but does not fruit so well in such a position. Tolerates atmospheric pollution, excessive moisture and a range of soil types if they are moderately fertile[200]. Established plants are drought tolerant[200]. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[200]. A parent of the cultivated Asian pears[11].
                                                                                 
Propagation                                         
Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in the autumn, it will then usually germinate in mid to late winter. Stored seed requires 8 - 10 weeks cold stratification at 1°c and should be sown as early in the year as possible[200]. Temperatures over 15 - 20°c induce a secondary dormancy in the seed[200]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse for their first year. Plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year.
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Expert comment                                         
 
      
Author                                         
(Burm.f.)Nakai.
                                                                                 
Botanical References                                         
11200266
                                                                                 
Links / References                                         

[11]Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
[58]Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation)
The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.
[178]Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica.
A translation of an ancient Chinese herbal. Fascinating.
[183]Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
[194]Parmar. C. and Kaushal. M.K. Wild Fruits of the Sub-Himalayan Region.
Contains lots of information on about 25 species of fruit-bearing plants of the Himalayas, not all of them suitable for cool temperate zones.
[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
[266] Flora of China
On-line version of the Flora - an excellent resource giving basic info on habitat and some uses.

Readers comment                                         
 
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