Pyrus nivalis

Jacquin

Fl. Austriac. 2: 4, plate 107. 1774.

Common names: Snow pear
Introduced
Synonyms: Pyrus austriaca A. Kerner P. eriopleura Reichenbach P. salviifolia de Candolle
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 9. Treatment on page 481. Mentioned on page 480, 483.

Plants 50–200 dm. Branches white-tomentose when young, later blackish; thorns usually absent. Leaves: petiole 1–2 cm, tomentose; blade obovate, 5–9 × 3–4 cm, base cuneate, decurrent, margins entire or slightly crenulate, apex acute or short-acuminate, abaxial surface densely whitish gray-pubescent, adaxial sparsely pubescent. Pedicels 3–6 cm, tomentose-lanate. Flowers 35–45 mm diam.; sepals triangular, 6–8 × 3–4 mm, apex acuminate; petals white, obovate-elliptic, 14–16 × 12–14 mm; ovaries 5-locular; styles 5. Pomes yellowish green with purple dots, globose, 30–50 mm diam.; sepals persistent.


Phenology: Flowering Apr.
Habitat: Old fields
Elevation: 50–200 m

Distribution

V9 810-distribution-map.jpg

Introduced; Md., Wash., Europe

Discussion

In the flora area, Pyrus nivalis possibly is only persisting after cultivation. The species is native to central and south-central Europe. Some specimens of common pears are called snow pears because of the abundant white flowers; the true snow pear also has whitish foliage as a result of the persistent indument on the abaxial surface of the leaf.

Pyrus elaeagnifolia Pallas, differing from P. nivalis in styles villous to the middle instead of only at the base, smaller fruit 2–3 cm, and often narrower lanceolate or narrowly elliptic leaves, would key here. It is occasionally cultivated but not yet definitely known as an escape.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Pyrus nivalis"
whitish gray-pubescent +
glabrous or +  and sparsely densely tomentose +
acuminate;short-acuminate;acute +
Paul M. Catling +  and Gisèle Mitrow +
Jacquin +
persistent +
orangebrown +, reddish +  and gray +
compound +  and simple +
opposite +  and alternate +
decurrent +  and cuneate +
9 cm90 mm <br />0.09 m <br /> (12 cm120 mm <br />0.12 m <br />) +
5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br /> (9 cm90 mm <br />0.09 m <br />) +
obovate +
5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br /> (9 cm90 mm <br />0.09 m <br />) +
leathery +  and firm +
3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (?) +  and 4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br /> (?) +
white-tomentose +
triangular-ovoid;ovoid;triangular-ovoid;ovoid;ovoid +
adnate +  and connate +
Snow pear +
tomentose +  and glabrous +
umbel-like +
Md. +, Wash. +  and Europe +
not +  and aggregated +
50–200 m +
glabrous +  and hairy +
3.5 cm35 mm <br />0.035 m <br /> (4.5 cm45 mm <br />0.045 m <br />) +
unisexual +  and bisexual +
not +  and aggregated +
not +  and aggregated +
dotted +, yellow +, green +, red +  and brown +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (12 cm120 mm <br />0.12 m <br />) +
Old fields +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
cupular +  and campanulate +
crassinucellate +
deciduous +
pinnate +, entire +, serrulate +  and serrate +
crenulate +  and entire +
inferior +  and superior +
biseriate +  and clustered +
collateral +  and basal +
tomentose-lanate +
3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (6 cm60 mm <br />0.06 m <br />) +
0 (?) +  and 4 (?) +
free +  and distinct +
14mm;16mm +
obovate-elliptic +
1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br /> (1.4 cm14 mm <br />0.014 m <br />) +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
Flowering Apr. +
adnate +, free +, connate +  and distinct +
blackish +  and gray +
rectangular +
yellowish green with purple dots +
3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br />) +
globose +
Fl. Austriac. +
tomentose +  and glabrous +
umbel-like +
not arillate +
persistent +
free +  and distinct +
triangular +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
Introduced +
free +  and distinct +
branched +  and simple +
1 +  and many +
lanceolate +
not +  and persistent +
distinct +
basal +, lateral +, subterminal +  and terminal +
elongate +
glabrous +  and hairy +
Pyrus austriaca +, P. eriopleura +  and P. salviifolia +
Pyrus nivalis +
species +
inconspicuous +
oval +  and pyramidal +