Etymology[edit]

The English word pear is probably from Common West Germanic pera, probably
a loanword of Vulgar Latin pira, the plural of pirum, akin to Greek apios (from
Mycenaean pisos),[2] which is of Semitic origin (Aramaic/Syriac "pir", meaning "fruit", from the
verb "pra", meaning "to beget, multiply, bear fruit"). The place name Perry can indicate the
historical presence of pear trees. The term "pyriform" is sometimes used to describe something
which is pear-shaped.
The pear is native to coastal and mildly temperate regions of the Old World, from western Europe
and north Africa east right across Asia. It is a medium-sized tree, reaching 1017 metres (33
56 ft) tall, often with a tall, narrow crown; a few species are shrubby.
The leaves are alternately arranged, simple, 212 centimetres (0.794.72 in) 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 (13 F) and
40 C (40 F) in winter, except for the evergreen species, which only tolerate temperatures
down to about 15 C (5 F).
The flowers are white, rarely tinted yellow or pink, 24 centimetres (0.791.57 in) diameter, and
have five petals.[3] Like that of the relatedapple, the pear fruit is a pome, in most wild species 14
centimetres (0.391.57 in) diameter, but in some cultivated forms up to 18 centimetres (7.1 in)
long and 8 centimetres (3.1 in) broad; the shape varies in most species from oblate or globose,
to the classic pyriform 'pear-shape' of the European pear with an elongated basal portion and a
bulbous end.
The fruit is composed of the receptacle or upper end of the flower-stalk (the so-called calyx tube)
greatly dilated. Enclosed within its cellular flesh is the true fruit: five cartilaginous carpels, known
colloquially as the "core". From the upper rim of the receptacle are given off the five sepals[vague],
the five petals, and the very numerous stamens.
Pears and apples cannot always be distinguished by the form of the fruit; some pears look very
much like some apples, e.g. the nashi pear. One major difference is that the flesh of pear fruit
contains stone cells (also called "grit").