| Photo Information |
Copyright: Morag Hamilton (lebois)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 57 W: 1 N: 71]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/g-n-g.gif) (316) |
| Genre: Places |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2006-04-11 |
| Categories: Nature |
| Exposure: f/6.5, 1/584 seconds |
| More Photo Info: [view] |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2006-04-11 12:41 |
| Viewed: 493 |
| Favorites: 1 [view] |
| Points: 6 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Pears are trees of the genus Pyrus and the juicy fruit of that tree, edible in some species. The English word pear is from Common West Germanic *pera, probably a loanword of Vulgar Latin pira, the plural of pirum, which is itself of unknown origin. The place name Perry can indicate the historical presence of pear trees.
Pears are native to temperate regions of the Old World, from western Europe and north Africa east right across Asia. They are medium sized trees, reaching 10-17 m tall, often with a tall, narrow crown; a few species are shrubby. The leaves are alternately arranged, simple, 2-12 cm long, glossy green on some species, densely silvery-hairy in some others; leaf shape varies from broad oval to narrow lanceolate. Most pears are deciduous, but one or two species in southeast Asia are evergreen. Most are cold-hardy, withstanding temperatures between −25 °C and −40 °C in winter, except for the evergreen species, which only tolerate temperatures down to about −15 °C.
The flowers are white, rarely tinted yellow or pink, 2-4 cm diameter, and have five petals. Like that of the related apple, the pear fruit is a pome, in most wild species 1-4 cm diameter, but in some cultivated forms up to 18 cm long and 8 cm broad; the shape varies from globose in most species, to the classic 'pear-shape' of the European Pear with an elongated basal portion and a bulbous end.
There are about 30 species of pears.
Pears are consumed fresh, canned, as juice, and occasionally dried. The juice can also be used in jellies and jams, usually in combination with other fruits or berries. Fermented pear juice is called perry.
Pear wood is one of the preferred materials in the manufacture of high-quality woodwind instruments and furniture. It is also used for firewood.
Information obtained from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pear |
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