''Pyrus gergerana'', known as the Gergeranian pear, is a species of
tree
In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, e.g., including only woody plants with secondary growth, only ...
in the family
Rosaceae
Rosaceae (), the rose family, is a family of flowering plants that includes 4,828 known species in 91 genera.
The name is derived from the type genus '' Rosa''. The family includes herbs, shrubs, and trees. Most species are deciduous, but som ...
. It is a
wild pear endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...
to
Armenia
Armenia, officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of West Asia. It is a part of the Caucasus region and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia (country), Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to ...
, found only near the village of
Herher (Ger-Ger) in the southeastern part of the country.
[ There are estimated to be a mere 50 trees left in the wild, yet, as of 2014, there have been no conservation measures in place to protect the species.]
Description
''Pyrus gergerana'' differs from other species by form and shape of leaves and fruits. It blooms from April to June, and the fruit ripens in September. Fruits are large (3-3.5 cm in diameter).
References
{{Pyrus-stub