Pyrus salicifolia
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| Pyrus salicifolia | ||||||||||||||||
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| Pyrus salicifolia Pall. |
Pyrus salicifolia is a species of pear, native to the Middle East. It is also widely grown as an ornamental tree and is called by various common names, including Willow-leafed Pear, Willowleaf Pear, Weeping Pear, and similar. The tree is small and rounded, rarely reaching 10-12 meters in height and bearing pendulous, silvery foliage, superficially similar to a weeping willow. The flowers are large and pure white highlighted with black-tipped stamens although the buds are tipped with red. The small green fruits are not edible, being hard and astringent.
This tree is cultivated widely in gardens and landscapes. It grows well in low-quality sandy soils due to its spreading root system. The trees flower in the spring, but during the rest of the year can be trimmed back and shaped almost like topiary. This species of tree is very susceptible to fireblight, a bacterial pathogen.
Pyrus salicifolia may also be confused with P. nivalis which is generally taller and hardly pendulous or with P. eleagrifolia which had broader entire leaves and longer petioles.
[edit] References
- Güner & Zielinski (1998). Pyrus salicifolia. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
