Parsonage pear facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pear 'Parsonage' |
|
|---|---|
| Genus | Pyrus |
| Species | Pyrus communis |
| Cultivar | 'Parsonage' |
| Origin | New Rochelle, New York, USA |
The Parsonage is a special type of pear called a cultivar. A cultivar is a plant variety that has been developed and grown by people for certain good qualities, like tasty fruit. This pear comes from New Rochelle, New York, in the northeastern United States.
The original 'Parsonage' pear tree was found in 1857. It grew on the land of Reverend Doctor R. U. Morgan, who was a minister at Trinity Episcopal Church. Stephen P. Carpenter, from the Huguenot Nurseries in New Rochelle, introduced this pear to the public. The first tree was known for always producing lots of delicious, high-quality pears.
New Rochelle was once very famous for growing trees and shrubs. The early Huguenot settlers there were especially good at developing new kinds of fruits and flowers. Other pear types, like the 'Churchland' and 'Huntington' pears, also came from this area. The 'Lawton blackberry', which was the first widely grown blackberry in the country, also started here.
What Makes the 'Parsonage' Pear Special?
The 'Parsonage' pear is quite a large fruit. It usually measures about 3 and a quarter inches long and 2 and a half inches wide.
Shape and Color
This pear has a unique shape. It's called "pyriform," which means it's shaped like a pear! It's rounded at the bottom and often gets narrower and more pointed towards the stem. The skin of the 'Parsonage' pear is a bright yellow color. It often has a rough, brownish-red patch (called "russet") near its base and top. You might also see other russet marks scattered across the rest of its skin.
Texture and Ripening
The stem of the 'Parsonage' pear is about 5/8 of an inch long. When you bite into it, the fruit's flesh feels a bit grainy, but it's also smooth and buttery. This pear is usually ready to pick and eat around the end of September.
