European pear

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• domestic pear
• Pear
• Wild Pear

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Rosales and the family Rosaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Pyrus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Pyrus communis, exhibits a broad distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, it can be found growing in the landscapes of Denmark and Sweden. Its presence extends to the islands of the North Atlantic, specifically within Great Britain and Ireland. Furthermore, the species is also documented in Middle Europe, notably in Austria. Together, these locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in diverse temperate environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pyrus communis is characterized by its adaptability to various environments, specifically showing a strong presence within anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), where human intervention and land use significantly influence its distribution. This species occupies a broad altitudinal gradient, thriving at elevations ranging from a minimum of 250 m AMSL to a maximum of 2800 m AMSL. This extensive elevational range allows the plant to inhabit diverse climatic zones, ranging from lower-altitude temperate settings to higher, more montane ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

250 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Pyrus communis is characterized by its classification as a perennial organism, meaning it maintains its vegetative structures and continues its life cycle over many years. As a phanerophyte, the plant directs its primary growth upward, with its reproductive buds located on branches well above the ground level, which is a defining feature of its phanerophyte life form. This structural strategy is complemented by its deciduous nature, as the plant undergoes a seasonal shedding of its foliage, losing its leaves annually to enter a period of dormancy.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pyrus communis is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that is strictly terrestrial in its habitat. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a self-supporting structure without the need for climbing mechanisms such as lianas or vines. The plant exhibits significant variation in stature, with a height range spanning from a minimum of 3 m to a maximum of 30 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 17.3 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30 m

Plant height mean:

17.3 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pyrus communis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy for temperate woody species that optimizes carbon fixation under moderate light and temperature conditions. As a non-carnivorous plant, it relies entirely on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than insectivory. Its foliar morphology is defined by orbicular leaf forms, with leaf dimensions showing significant variability; the leaf length ranges from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 9.8 cm, with a mean length of 3.5 cm. Similarly, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 1.5 cm and a maximum of 4.5 cm, yielding a mean width of 4.5 cm. These structural parameters contribute to a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 93.215 cm²/g, reflecting the plant's leaf mass per unit area and its physiological adaptation to its specific environmental niche.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

orbicular

Leaf length max:

9.8 cm

Leaf length mean:

3.5 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width mean:

4.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

93.215 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pyrus communis is characterized by a biotic pollination process, specifically utilizing an insect-based pollination syndrome. The flowering period typically commences in April and concludes in May, featuring white flowers arranged in a raceme inflorescence. These flowers vary in size, with a maximum length of 3 cm and a maximum width of 3 cm, and a minimum length of 1.2 cm. Notably, self-fertilization is absent, and there is no recorded asexual reproduction, indicating a reliance on sexual reproduction for genetic diversity. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit that varies in dimensions, with a mean length of 5 cm (ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 5 cm) and a mean width of 1.75 cm (ranging from 1.5 cm to a maximum of 2 cm). The dispersal syndrome is classified as zoochorous, specifically endozoochorous, meaning seeds are dispersed through the digestive tracts of animals. The resulting seeds are small, with a mean mass of 0.027933 g (ranging from 0.01856 g to 0.03704 g), a minimum length of 3.5 mm and a maximum length of 6.5 mm, and a minimum width of 2 mm and a maximum width of 4.5 mm.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flower length max:

3 cm

Flower length min:

1.2 cm

Flower width max:

3 cm

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

May

Fruit length max:

5 cm

Fruit length min:

1 cm

Fruit width max:

2 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.75 cm

Fruit width min:

1.5 cm

Inflorescence :

raceme

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length max:

6.5 mm

Seed length min:

3.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.03704 g

Seed mass mean:

0.027933 g

Seed mass min:

0.01856 g

Seed width max:

4.5 mm

Seed width min:

2 mm

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pyrus communis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Microbial drug resistance (Larchmont, N.Y.)

Chemicals

Pyrus communis has 112 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include hydroquinone, 4'-Dihydrophaseic acid, 6-O-Acetylarbutin, ALUMINUM, ARSENIC.

hydroquinone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Microbial drug resistance (Larchmont, N.Y.)

4'-Dihydrophaseic acid

1. Dr. Duke

6-O-Acetylarbutin

1. Dr. Duke

ALUMINUM

1. Dr. Duke

ARSENIC

1. Dr. Duke

Abscissic Acid

1. Dr. Duke

Acetic Acid Isobutyl Ester

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

BARIUM

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Natural product research

Activities

Pyrus communis has 613 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor, AP-1-Inhibitor.

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acarifuge

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Adjuvant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Pyrus communis has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, wound healing.

Most Reported Uses