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Pyrus communis

Common Names: Pear, Common Pear, European Pear
Pyrus communis
Pyrus communis

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Pyrus
Species: Pyrus communis

Conservation Status

Identifying Features

Common pear is a small to medium size tree, growing up to 60 feet tall.

This tree has gray-brown and scaly bark. Its leaves are alternate and simple, 1 to 3" long, and egg-shaped. They are round-toothed and nearly hairless, compared to the common apple that has hairy undersides on its leaves.

Habitat & Range

Common pears were introduced from Eurasia. They are commmonly found throughout North America as an ornamental and in abandoned orchards. It’s also found growing wildly.

Life Cycle

The fruit is a familiar pear shape, between 3 to 4" long, and green to yellow.

Featured image by James Dake.

Related

Malus pumila
Common Apple
Potentilla simplex
Common Cinquefoil
Prunus serotina
Black Cherry