Pyrus pashia

Buchanan-Hamilton ex D. Don

Wild Himalayan Pear, Pashia Pear

RosaceaeFruitLeavesFlowersSpice/BeverageScore: 10/100Potential hazards — see below

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(c) Rajendra Koranga, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

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(c) Chief RedEarth, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by Chief RedEarth

iNaturalist · cc-by-nc
(c) Rajendra Koranga, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

What to Eat

Edible parts: Fruit, Flowers, Leaves - tea, Leaves

The fruit, up to 2.5cm in diameter, can be eaten raw or cooked and is usually bletted before eating. Even when bletted it is not always sweet, but fully ripe fruit has a reasonable flavour and becomes sweet and very pleasant after bletting; it is also tasty when dried. A mature tree yields around 45kg of fruit per year. The fruit contains approximately 6.8% sugars, 3.7% protein, 1% ash, and 0.4% pectin. Vitamin C content is very low at about 1.2mg per 100g.

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.

Where to Find It

It is a temperate plant. In Vietnam it grows between 1,000 and 2,000 m altitude. In Nepal it grows between 700-2600 m altitude. It grows in open, rocky places. In Yunnan in China it grows between 1000-1500 m altitude. It grows in secondary forest. It suits hardiness zones 5-9. Arboretum Tasmania. In Sichuan.

Afghanistan, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Iran, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, NW India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim, Tasmania, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Brunei, Bhutan, China, Georgia, Indonesia, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mongolia, Maldives, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

How to Identify

A tree. It grows 8-12 m high. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves have stalks. The leaves are smooth. They are 3-7 cm long by 1.5-3 cm wide. They are oval to sword shaped. They taper to the tip. They have shallow rounded teeth along the edge. They are shiny and are often woolly underneath on young plants. The flowers are white. They have stalks. The fruit is round and covered with white dots.

Nutrition Score: 10/100

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Fruit	26.3	—	—	1.8	—	—	—	—

How to Grow

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. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c.

Propagation: Seed is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in autumn, when it will typically germinate in mid to late winter. Stored seed requires 8–10 weeks of cold stratification at 1°C and should be sown as early in the year as possible. Temperatures above 15–20°C can induce a secondary dormancy. Prick out seedlings into individual pots once large enough to handle, and grow on in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse through their first year. Plant out in late spring or early summer the following year.

Medicinal Uses

The juice of the ripe fruit is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, making use of its astringent properties.

Other Uses

This species can be used as a rootstock for cultivated pear. The wood is compact, fine-grained, hard, and durable, though liable to split and warp during seasoning. It is used for small implements, walking sticks, and fuel.

Wikipedia

Source ↗

Pyrus pashia, the wild Himalayan pear, is a small to medium size deciduous tree of the small and oval shaped crown with ovate, finely toothed leaves, attractive white flowers with red anthers and small pear-like fruits. It is a fruit bearing tree that is native to southern Asia. Locally, it is known by many names such as batangi (Urdu), tangi (Kashmiri), mahal mol (Hindi) and passi (Nepal).

Other Information

It is sold in local markets.

Names & Synonyms

Arem naspati, Batangay, Batangi, Bulthing, Chalthei, Chitishi, Chotia, Ghandali, Guo kei gai, Ja-toh, Kaenth, Kainth, Kean schein, Kitsu, Magwgai, Mahal, Mak chong, Mak chong pa, Mapak chi, Mayal, Mehal, Mehel mol, Mel, Melal, Melu, Moc-cot, Mol, Mole, Nashpati, Naspati, Nepalese wild pear, Passi, Sakhaw, Sano mayal, San tan ngai, Shagal, Shegal, Sheghel, Shiara, Si li, Soh-jhur, Soh-shur, Suilan, Tang liu guo, Tanchi, Tang, Tangai, Tangeer, Taoshi, Tayana, Thittaw-thi-pin, Thulo mayal, Vul, Zha shuo si li

Malus pashia (Buch.-Ham. ex Don) Wenz.Pyrus crenata D. DonPyrus kumaoni Decne ex Hook.f.Pyrus variolosa Wall. ex G. DonPyrus verruculosa Bertol.

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