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Callery Pear

 
Posts: 30
Location: Pennswoods
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There is a park that I ride my bike through on my way to work that has what I believe are tons of callery or possibly Bradford pear trees but I'm not sure. Everything seems pretty consistent with what I've read about them, they have formed dense stands, they have purpley red fall foliage right now and they have a star shaped seed cavity. I'm going to go take some pictures now and get them up here, but does anyone know if a star shaped seed cavity is a sure way of telling that it is in the apple/pear family?

Thanks.
 
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Location: Northeastern Coast of the U.S.
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Well first off, Bradford pears are a cultivar (or subspecies) of the Callery pear. If that's what you think they are, you're probably not wrong; the Callery pear has been very popular as a landscape tree for a number of years because of its environmental tolerance.
And yes, if it has a star-shaped (or 5-pointed or 5-merus) seed cavity that is an almost 100% accurate indicator that it's in the Roseacea family that includes apples, pears, roses, and a number of other plants as well.
 
Ivanson Lance
Posts: 30
Location: Pennswoods
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I know Bradford is bred from other callerys but I was being more specific by saying it might be a Bradford. From what I've read they definitely seem pretty prolific.

But now I'm confused, I could have sworn that these fruit had a star shaped seed cavity, but the ones still on it seem to have two or three seeds. They still look very pear like as far as fruit color/texture, bark and leaves. Do you know if there is any organization that identifies plants that I could send it to?
 
Ivanson Lance
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Location: Pennswoods
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And the pictures.
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Ivanson Lance
Posts: 30
Location: Pennswoods
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The picture of the fallen tree seems very consistent with Bradford as it had a deep bark inclusion.
image.jpeg
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