Iberian pear

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Iberian pear
• Iberian Wild Pear Tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pyrus bourgaeana f. triloba
• Pyrus communis subsp. bourgaeana
• Pyrus communis var. bourgaeana
• Pyrus communis proles bourgaeana
• Pyrus communis proles mariana
• Pyrus communis f. triloba
• Pyrus communis var. mariana
• Pyrus mamorensis var. brevipes
• Pyrus mamorensis
• Pyrus bourgaeana subsp. mamorensis
• Pyrus pyraster subsp. mariana
• Pyrus communis subsp. mamorensis
• Pyrus communis subsp. mariana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is further categorized under the order Rosales and the family Rosaecae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement in the genus Pyrus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily located within the region of Southwestern Europe. Specifically, it can be found growing throughout the country of Portugal. Its presence also extends across the landscapes of Spain. Furthermore, the distribution of this species reaches into Northern Africa. Within this northern territory, it is specifically documented in Morocco.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Pyrus bourgaeana is characterized by its status as a perennial species, meaning it lives for many years and undergoes repeated cycles of growth and reproduction. As a long-lived woody plant, its developmental trajectory involves an initial establishment phase followed by many years of vegetative expansion and seasonal flowering. Unlike annuals that complete their life cycle in a single season or biennials that require two years, this perennial maintains its structural integrity and physiological functions through successive growing seasons, allowing it to adapt to its environment and reach significant maturity over time.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pyrus bourgaeana is characterized by its woody structure, exhibiting a growth form that can manifest as either a shrub or a tree. Depending on environmental conditions and developmental stage, the plant's stature varies, with heights ranging from a minimum of 3 m to a maximum of 6 m.

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

tree

Plant height max:

6 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pyrus bourgaeana is fundamentally characterized by its carbon assimilation strategy, utilizing a C3 photosynthetic pathway to facilitate energy production. As a C3 plant, the initial fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide occurs through the enzyme Rubisco, which reacts CO2 with ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) to produce two molecules of 3-phosphoglycerate in the mesophyll cells. This metabolic process is highly efficient under temperate conditions, allowing the plant to optimize growth through standard Calvin cycle activity. Beyond its carbon fixation mechanism, the plant's physiological performance is governed by its ability to regulate transpiration and gas exchange in response to environmental variables, ensuring that water use efficiency remains balanced with the metabolic requirements of its C3 photosynthetic framework.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pyrus bourgaeana is characterized by the production of fleshy pomes that serve as the primary reproductive structure. These fruits are indehiscent, meaning they do not split open at maturity to release their contents, and they maintain a fleshy texture. On average, the fruits possess a length of 2.05 cm and a width of 2.33 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds exhibit a consistent volume of 48 mm³, with both the minimum and mean measurements reaching this value, while the average seed mass is recorded at 0.03 g. The dispersal of the species follows a zoochorous syndrome, relying on animals to aid in the movement of the seeds, which is facilitated by the nutritional value of the fleshy fruit.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length mean:

2.05 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width mean:

2.33 cm

Seed mass mean:

0.03 g

Seed volume max:

48 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Pyrus bourgaeana has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include arbutin.

arbutin

1. Planta medica