| Species | Plymouth pear - Pyrus cordata, plant |
| Habitat | SPECIES-RICH HEDGES |
| Background and status | This small, spiny tree,
with broad leaves and small, speckled fruits, which, ripen red, grows up
to four-and-a-half metres in height. In early May it is covered with sprays
of very pale cream flowers, which unfortunately have a faint, but quite
appalling smell, variously described as smelling of rotting scampi or wet
carpets. First discovered wild in the South West in 1865 it is the only
truly wild pear in Britain.
It is only found growing in two hedges near Plymouth, where it has been established for over 100 years. It is a listed endangered species, and transplants have been preserved in cultivation. |
| Main Threats | Being only found in two hedges, any threat to these sites would be disasterous to this species. |
| Conservation and targets |
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