Ussuri Pear

(Pyrus ussuriensis), a wild plant of the family Rosaceae. The tree, which measures 10–15 m in height, has a broad, dense crown. The leaves are glossy above; the flowers are white and measure 3–4 cm across. The fruits, which are on short stalks, are elongate, rounded, or oval. They are 1.5–6.7 cm long and, in some varieties, reach a weight of 100 g. The skin is green or yellow, sometimes with a blush. The white, yellow, or pink flesh contains grit cells and is quite tasty. The fruits contain sugars, organic acids, essential oils, tannins, pectins, and vitamin C. Ripening occurs in September. The fruits are used in fresh and processed form; they darken with storage.

The Ussuri pear is distributed in forests of the Far East, Korea, and Northeast China. A good frost-resistant root-stock for the common pear, the species is used in selective breeding. I. V. Michurin used the Ussuri pear in developing the variety known as the Michurin Winter Beurre.