Pyrus sinkiangensis T. T. Yu

This species might be a natural hybrid between Pyrus communis and P. bretschneideri.

Trees to 6–9 m tall. Branchlets purplish brown or grayish brown, terete, glabrous, white lenticellate; buds ovoid, apex acute; scales white pubescent at margin. Stipules caducous, linear-lanceolate, 8–10 mm, membranous, white tomentose, margin sparsely glandular denticulate, apex acuminate; petiole 3–5 cm, white tomentose when young, soon glabrous; leaf blade ovate, elliptic, or broadly ovate, 6–8 × 3.5–5 cm, glabrous or white tomentose when young, base rounded, rarely broadly cuneate, margin crenate or subentire basally, serrulate apically, apex shortly acuminate. Raceme umbel-like, 4–7-flowered; peduncle tomentose when young, glabrescent; bracts caducous, linear-lanceolate, 1–1.3 cm, membranous, margin sparsely glandular denticulate and long tomentose, apex acuminate. Pedicel 1.5–4 cm, tomentose when young, glabrescent. Flowers 1.5–2.5 cm in diam. Hypanthium cupular, abaxially glabrous. Sepals triangular-ovate, 6–7 mm, abaxially brown tomentose, margin glandular denticulate, apex acuminate. Petals white, obovate, 1.2–1.5 × 0.8–1 cm, shortly clawed at base, apex obtusely rounded. Stamens 20, less than or ca. 1/2 as long as petals. Ovary 5-loculed, with 2 ovules per locule; styles 5, not exceeding stamens, pubescent basally. Pome yellowish green, ovoid or obovoid, 2.5–5 cm in diam., 5-loculed; fruiting pedicel 4–5 cm, thickened distally, glabrescent; sepals persistent. Fl. Apr, fr. Aug–Sep. 2n = 34*, 51*.

Cultivated in Gansu, Qinghai, Shaanxi. Native in Xinjiang.

200--1100 m.

Pyrus × sinkangensis, the Xinjiang pear, has been suspected to be of complex hybrid origin involving P. communis and Chinese white pears based on their morphological characteristics.

Cultivars of P. × sinkangensis vary considerably, combining characteristics of both P. communis and Chinese white pears. Generally, the fruit shape of this species is much similar to P. communis, but with a long pedicel. Some cultivars of P. × sinkiangensis bear fruits with a persistent calyx and strong aroma, needing ripening before being edible, which is similar to P. communis. On the other hand, fruits of some cultivars are juicy and crisp and not needed for ripening, which is like Chinese white pear.

New information from DNA-based markers indicates that P. × sinkiangensis usually produced complex RAPD profiles, at least P. communis, P. armeniacifolia and Chinese white pears or sand pears have been involved in the origin of Xinjiang pears.