Tree small, stout, without thorns; young shoots thickly covered with white wool. Leaves oval or obovate, 2 to 3 in. long, 3/4 to 1-1/4 in. wide, crenate at the base, entire, upper and lower surfaces covered with white wool when young, nearly glaucous and the upper surface shining when mature. Flowers white, 1-1/2 in. across, clustered. Fruit roundish, yellowish-green, borne on a stalk as long or longer than the fruit, acid or becoming sweetish at full maturity. This pear is a native of eastern Europe and Asia Minor and is often found in France as an escape from the orchard. The tree, which sometimes attains a height of fifty feet, is said to be a handsome ornamental. The species is sometimes under cultivation in France for the fruits which make very good perry, and when bletted, as is the medlar, are suitable for dessert. In Austria and adjoining parts of Germany, the species is somewhat cultivated for the same purposes as in France under the name _Schnee birn_ or Snow pear, because not fit to eat until snow falls. This pear might have value to hybridize with common pears for the improvement of their fruit. Botanists are not quite certain of the botanical standing of _P. nivalis_. By some botanists it is considered a cultivated form of _P. elæagrifolia_ Pallas. By others it is thought to be a cross of which _P. communis_ is one parent. _P. salvifolia_ De Candolle is either closely allied to or identical with this species. _P. kotschyana_ Boissier differs from _P. nivalis_ chiefly in having smaller and harder fruits. _P. elæagrifolia_ Pallas is distinguished by some botanists from _P. kotschyana_ only by its spiny branches--not a constant character. =3.= =PYRUS AURICULARIS= Knoop =1.= _Pomol._ =2=:38. 1763. =2.= _P. irregularis_ Muenchhausen _Hausvater_ =5=:246. 1770. =3.= _P. pollveria_ Linnaeus _Mant._ =2=:244. 1771. =4.= _P. bollwyleriana_ De Candolle _Fl. France Suppl._ =5=:530. 1815. A tree 30 to 50 ft. high, forming a round head; branchlets and buds downy. Leaves ovate or oval, 3 to 4 in. long, 2 to 2-1/2 in. wide; pointed, irregular, and coarsely and sometimes doubly toothed; upper surface glossy, dark green, with glands on the midrib, glabrous at maturity, downy when young; lower surface permanently covered with gray tomentum; stalk 1 to 1-1/2 in. long, woolly. Flowers white, nearly 1 in. across, 5 to 20 in tomentose corymbs; sepals covered with pure white wool on both surfaces; styles 2 to 5, united and tomentose at the base; stamens rosy red. Fruit pyriform, 1 to 1-1/2 in. in diameter; stalk 1 to 1-1/2 in. long, reddish yellow; flesh yellow, sweet.