Pyrus xerophila T. T. Yu

In NW China, this species is often used as stock for grafting pear cultivars.

Trees to 8–10 m tall. Branchlets slightly curved, robust, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, brownish gray when old, sparsely white lenticellate; buds ovoid, small, glabrous or scales pubescent at margin and apex, apex acute. Stipules caducous, linear-lanceolate, 6–10 mm, membranous, adaxially white lanate, soon glabrescent, margin glandular denticulate, apex acuminate; petiole 2.5–5 cm, glabrous; leaf blade ovate or narrowly ovate, rarely narrowly elliptic, 4–7 × 2.5–4 cm, glabrous or those of branchlets pubescent, base rounded, margin obtusely serrate, rarely sparsely serrulate toward apex, apex acuminate, rarely acute. Raceme umbel-like, 3–6-flowered; peduncle sparsely pubescent, soon glabrescent; bracts caducous, linear-lanceolate, 6–10 mm, membranous, adaxially white lanate, soon glabrescent, margin glandular denticulate, apex acuminate. Pedicel 2–3 cm, sparsely hairy, soon glabrescent. Flowers 2–2.5 cm in diam. Hypanthium cupular, abaxially glabrous or subglabrous. Sepals triangular-ovate, 2–3 mm, abaxially glabrous, adaxially tomentose, margin glandular denticulate, apex acuminate. Petals white, broadly ovate, 9–10 mm, base shortly clawed, apex rounded. Stamens 20, slightly shorter than petals. Ovary (4- or)5-loculed, with 2 ovules per locule; styles (4 or)5, nearly as long as stamens, sparsely pubescent basally. Pome brown with few pale dots, ovoid or ellipsoid, 1–1.5 cm in diam., 4- or 5-loculed; fruiting pedicel 2–3.5 cm; sepals persistent. Fl. Apr, fr. Aug–Sep. 2n = 34*, 51*.

Gansu, Henan, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Xinjiang, Xizang.

Slopes, among shrubs, forests; 500--2000 m.

Pyrus xerophila is a species of flowering plant in the genus Pyrus found in China. It is a probable hybrid species resulting from crosses between Pyrus pashia (Himalayan pear), Pyrus ussuriensis (Manchurian pear), and the western domestic pear, brought together by travelers along the Silk Road. It is used as rootstock for cultivated pears, and the fruit are collected and eaten by local people.