Common Name: Indian Wild Pear

General Information

Pyrus pashia is a deciduous tree, often armed with spines; it can grow up to 12 metres tall[]. The plant often produces suckers[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is sometimes cultivated as a fruit crop, is used as a rootstock and is also grown as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

Although no specific information has been seen for this plant, the seed of many species in the family Rosaceae are likely to contain cyanogenic glycosides. When injested, these compounds break down in the digestive tract to release cyanide. Used in small quantities in both traditional and conventional medicine, this exceedingly poisonous compound has been shown to stimulate respiration, improve digestion, and promote a sense of well-being[]. It is also claimed by some to be of benefit in the treatment of cancer - though this claim has been largely refuted.
In larger concentrations, however, cyanide can cause gasping, weakness, excitement, pupil dilation, spasms, convulsions, coma and respiratory failure leading to death[].
The levels of toxin can be detected by the level of bitterness:- sweet almonds, for example, contain only very low levels of it and are safe to eat in quantity, whilst bitter almonds (which are used as a flavouring in foods such as marzipan) contain much higher levels and should only be eaten in very small quantities. Great caution should be employed if the taste is moderately to very bitter[].

Botanical References

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Range

E. Asia - Afghanistan, southwest China, Pakistan, northern India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam

Habitat

Shrubberies in the Himalayas; at elevations up to 2,700 metres[]. Moist sandy, loamy and yellow red clay, near small streams or swamp areas, but also at the lower forest edge near rice paddy fields and open shrub land in Vietnam[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	9.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Pyrus pashia is a very cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -15°c when dormant[]. The tree also has a low chilling requirement and is the species of Pyrus best suited for growing in a hot, humid climate[].
Prefers a good well-drained loam in full sun[]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Tolerates light shade but does not fruit so well in such a position. Tolerates atmospheric pollution, excessive moisture and a range of soil types if they are moderately fertile[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
This tree is cultivated in Yunnan[]. The implication is that it could be for the fruit, but it could also mean as an ornamental or as a rotstock[].
The tree is sometimes cultivated for its fruit in the Himalayas[].
A mature tree yields about 45kg of fruit per year[].
The var Pyrus pashia var grandiflora Cardot has larger flowers than the type (around 30mm in diameter) and can be grown as an ornamental[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, , , , , ]. Small and rather insipid when first harvested[]. The fruit is usually bletted[, , ], but even then it is not sweet[]. Tasty when fully ripe, even when dried[]. Our experience is that the fully ripe fruit has a reasonable flavour and, when bletted, is sweet and very pleasant[]. The fruits can be dried and mixed with meal and then baked[]. The subglobose fruit is brown with pale dots, it can be 10 15mm in diameter[, ]. The fruit contains about 6.8% sugars, 3.7% protein, 1% ash, 0.4% pectin. Vitamin C is very low, about 1.2mg per 100g[].

Young shoots, leaves and flowers - cooked and eaten as vegetables[].

Medicinal

The juice of the ripe fruit is used in the treatment of diarrhoea[].
The pressed sap of the leaves is used in folk medicine[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is traditionally grown in living fences in the northwestern Himalayas, where it helps to exclude livestock and other animals; mark out land boundaries; whilst also providing a range of medicinal and other uses[].

Other Uses

This plant is often used as a rootstock for grafting the cultivated pear[, ].

The wood is compact fine grained, hard, durable, liable to split and warp during seasoning. It is used for small implements, walking sticks and fuel[, , , ].
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe - it will then usually germinate in a few weeks. Stored seed requires 8 - 10 weeks cold stratification at 1°c prior to sowing in a nursery seedbed[]. Temperatures over 15 - 20°c induce a secondary dormancy in the seed[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade until large enough to plant out.

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