The classical name of the pear was Pirus, changed to Pyrus by Tournefort, after which it was adopted by Linnaeus, who established the genus and united with it the Malus and Cydonia of Tournefort. Fortunately there is no confusion in the botanical nomenclature of this fruit. Botanists agree, without notable divergence of opinion, on the generic and specific names of this fruit. There are several well-marked botanical varieties of _Pyrus communis_ as well as a number of horticultural forms. The most prominent of these must be noted. =PYRUS COMMUNUS PYRASTER= Linnaeus =1.= Linnaeus _Sp. Pl._ 479. 1753. This variety, rather common in parts of Europe, is similar to the type in foliage but has globose fruits. The leaves differ somewhat in being more rounded and in having margins more serrate. The plant is often very thorny. Some botanists believe this form to be only an escape from cultivation. =PYRUS COMMUNIS SATIVA= De Candolle =1.= De Candolle _Prod._ =2=:634. 1825. This name is applied to the cultivated pear in its many pomological forms. The trees are usually larger than those of the wild pears and are without thorns. They differ also in having larger leaves, and larger and better-flavored fruits. =PYRUS COMMUNIS CORDATA= Hooker =1.= Hooker, J. D. _Stud. Flora_ 131. 1878. =2.= _P. cordata_ Desvaux _Obs. Pl. Anjou_ 152. 1818. This botanical variety is a spiny shrub or shrub-like tree. The leaves are smaller than those of the species, 1 in. in width, suborbicular to ovate, subcordate at the base. Flowers smaller. Fruit globose or slightly turbinate, very small, 1/2 in. in diameter; calyx persistent. The species is a native of western France and is found in Devon and Cornwall, England. This species is said to propagate itself freely from root-suckers which suggests that it might be tried as a dwarfing stock for the common pears. =PYRUS COMMUNIS LONGIPES= Henry =1.= Henry _Trees Gt. Brit. & Ire._ =6=:1561. 1912. =2.= _P. longipes_ Cosson and Durien _Bull. Soc. Bot. France._ =2=:310. 1855. The tree is small with a few spines. The leaves are about 2 in. long and 1 in. wide, ovate, acuminate, subcordate, glabrous, finely and crenately serrate, on long slender petioles. This variety differs little from var. _cordata_ in its fruit except in the deciduous calyx. It is found along the mountain streams of Algeria. =PYRUS COMMUNIS MARIANA= Willkomm =1.= _Linnaea_ =25=:25. 1852. =2.= _P. bourgaeana_ Decaisne _Jar. Fruit._ i. t. 2. 1871. This is a small tree found in the Sierra Morena in Spain. The leaves are ovate, 1 in. in length, rounded at the base, on very long, slender petioles. The pear is very small with a persistent calyx. 2. =PYRUS NIVALIS= Jacquin =1.= _Fl. Austr._ =2=: 4, t. =107.= 1774.