I planted a Baby Shipova and a Dwarf Shipova ( Shipova grafted on Aronia to dwarf) from One Green World 2 or 3 years ago. I just realized that Baby Shipova is probably the same as the Bollwiller/Pollwiller pear, can anyone confirm? Latin names are pretty useless on these intergeneric hybrids.
Not sure if anyone else is interested in this, but I came across this nifty slideshow from ARS: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cor/presentations/Intergeneric%20Pomes%20HTML/IntergenericPomes_frame.html
I may contact the slideshow author for some more info, but I think the Baby Shipova is the same as Sorbopyrus auricularis and would be the same as the Pollwiller pear of history. The regular Shipova is a triploid seedling of Sorbopyrus auricularis is known as Sorbopyrus auricularis var. bulbiformis.
3 Likes
Thanks for posting the slideshow. I learned a lot!
1 Like
And to beat a dead horse, England’s lists Shipova and Pollwiller Pear seperately. Description of Pollwiller pear is similar to that of Baby Shipova.
@ampersand: I remembered an article that I read some time ago (unfortunately it’s not in English).
It’s from 1887 and in shortcut this is what it says: Shipova is a chance seedling discovered by botanist
Gaspard Bauhin in Alsace region of France close to Bollville (German Bollveiler) city (maybe today’s Belleville?). It was named by him Pyrus Bollvylleriana. Linne (Carl Linnaeus) changed the name to Pyrus Pollveria.
So Bolviller/Pollwiller pear=Shipova
Sorbopyrus auricularis var. bulbiformis is a chance seedling of Shipova. It was one of 8 seedlings and it was the only one that was kept because it showed similarity with the mother plant (1858). In 1877 it fruited for the first time. The fruits were 8-10 times bigger and not mushy when ripe (as Shipova). The shape was more rounded, like an apple or even onion like - hence the name “bulbiformis”.
These days it’s called Tatar’s pear".
The original article has lot more info since it was written by the breeder of Tatar’s pear so if you are interested let me know.
2 Likes
Interesting, thanks! I actually removed my baby Shipova since it wasn’t growing. I think the graft union wasn’t good (on Mt Ash).
Wow… that is a super-interesting slideshow.
The Malus “Red Delicious” x Pyrus is interesting! It is PI 589292 from Geneva. I wonder how compatible it is with apple rootstock and pear scions?
1 Like
Anyone know if Shipova or baby Shipova flavor is ok ? Many posts suggest they don’t taste very good.
Lee Reich’s books speak highly of Shipova, which is why I got it. But yes, reviews here aren’t too favorable.
2 Likes
Hopefully the Red Delicious flavor doesn’t come through the interstem! 