Pyrus communis
Specifications
Family
Rosaceae
Species
Pyrus communis L.
common pear
Description
Reddish brown in color, it is hard and valuable for its fine, compact grain and its beautiful color.
Plant morphology
It is a deciduous tree up to 20 meters tall, with an erect trunk, sometimes branching at the base, and a low, sparse crown. The bark is grayish-brown and wrinkled, with flaking plaques on older specimens, while it is gray and smooth on younger ones. The leaves are ovate-elliptical in shape and have a crenate margin. The hermaphroditic flowers are white. The seeds are contained in a false, pear-shaped fruit (pear).
Natural occurrence
Countries of origin and distribution
Europe.
Habitat and ecology
Now widely cultivated thanks to its great adaptability, it is a tree of hybrid origin, with approximately 1,000 different cultivated varieties. In nature, it grows in mixed forests on moderately drained, temperate slopes, but also in Mediterranean scrub and rocky areas.
Uses
Use class
CU1
CU2
CU3
CU4
CU5
Application areas
It is used for lathe work and inlay, fine objects and furniture, for drawing rules and set squares, and in violin making.
Use in musical instruments
In violin making, it is used as an alternative to maple for guitar backs and sides, and tuning pegs, in addition to its typical use in the baroque violin and for lute ribs and bridges. It is also used to make wind instruments, such as recorders.
Threats and Conservation
Threats
Pyrus communis can easily hybridize with cultivated varieties and undergo genetic introgression.
Conservation measures
Specimens of this species are preserved in 117 ex situ collections (BGCI 2017).
IUCN Red List
IUCN
LC - Least Concern - Low Risk
CITES. Year of assessment
CITES
2017
1975
2050
CITES Italia • Ultimo aggiornamento
2017
Not present.
Technical data
Aesthetic characteristics
Grain
Slightly obvious
Texture
Fine
Physical and mechanical properties
Density
ρ
ρ
680
kg/m3
Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.
Rad. sh.
High
Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.
Tang. sh.
High
Bending strength
M.O.R.
M.O.R.
116
MPa
Durability characteristics
Fungal resistance
Moderatamente durabile
Insect resistance
Not resistant