Notice

Colin Mills, compiler of the Hortus Camdenensis, died in late November 2012 after a short illness. As he always considered the Hortus his legacy, it is his family's intention to keep the site running in perpetuity. It will not, however, be updated in the near future.

Pyrus communis ‘Beurré d’Hardenpont’

For details of this pear see Pyrus communis L. var. ‘Glou Morceau’. It has been included here under its earlier name of ‘Beurré d’Hardenpont’ for completeness.

 

 

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘Beurré d’Hardenpont’ is an earlier name of the pear now generally known as ‘Glou Morceau’. Macarthur probably introduced this pear in the belief that it was different to ‘Glou Morceau’ introduced around the same time. This historical note in Pears of New York may provide an answer. ‘The variety was introduced into France in 1806 by Louis Noisette, who had found it in the gardens of the Duc d'Arenberg. In France it was known, therefore, as Beurré d'Arenberg, and consequently became much confused with the true Beurré d'Arenberg raised by Monseigneur Deschamps. In order to overcome this confusion the name of the variety raised by M. Hardenpont was changed by a number of prominent Frenchmen to Beurré d'Hardenpont, but the variety has always been grown under both names in France. In 1820, M. Parmentier of Enghien, Belgium, sent this pear to England under the name Glou Morceau. (Glou, in the Walloon language, meaning delicious or dainty; morceau, French, morsel or bit; hence, the translation may be Delicious Morsel or Dainty Bit.) Glou Morceau has long been the popular name of the variety in England and America.’ [Pears of New York p.172].

 

 

History at Camden Park

Listed only in the 1857 catalogue in an Addendum as ‘Beurré L’Ardenport’ [Pear no.33/1857]. This is amended in Macarthur’s hand to ‘Beurré L’Ardenpont’ in a copy of the catalogue used by him for this purpose [Pear no.33/1850] but he thought nothing of its qualities. ‘33. Bad.’ [Diary B, MP A2951/1862].

 

 

Notes

Le Jardin Fruitier du Muséum figured a pear under the name ‘Poire Pomme’, with the synonyms ‘Beurré d’Hardenpont’ and ‘Delices d’Hardenpont’ [JFM vol.4/1861]. This is a less likely possibility. Several pears have been given the name ‘Apple Pear’, a reference to their rounded shape.

 

 

Published May 19, 2010 - 02:41 PM | Last updated Jul 22, 2011 - 02:01 PM

Figured is an oval pear, tapered towards the stalk, skin yellow and russety + a sectioned pear. Pears of New York p.172, 1921.

Pear ‘Glou Morceau’ | Pears of New York p.172/1921 | BHL

 

Family Rosaceae
Category
Region of origin

Garden origin, Belgium

Synonyms
  • Glou Morceau
  • and others

 

Common Name

Dessert Pear, autumn to spring

Name in the Camden Park Record

Beurré L’Ardenport 

 

 

Confidence level high