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''Pyrus pyrifolia'' is a species of pear tree native to East Asia. The tree's edible fruit is known by many names, including: Asian pear, Chinese pear,〔 Korean pear, Japanese pear,〔 Japanese Apple Pear, Taiwanese pear, and sand pear.〔 Along with cultivars of ''P. × bretschneideri'' and ''P. ussuriensis'', the fruit is also called the nashi pear.〔(NSW Primary Industries 2002. ''Nashi asian pear varieties''. Agfact H4.1.14 )〕〔In Japanese the fruit is called ''nashi''. The best variety is called ''shingo'' in Korean.〕 Cultivars derived from ''Pyrus pyrifolia'' are grown throughout East Asia, and in other countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and the United States (e.g., California). Traditionally in East Asia the tree's flowers are a popular symbol of early spring, and it is a common sight in gardens and the countryside. The fruits are not generally baked in pies or made into jams because they have a high water content and a crisp, grainy texture, very different from the European varieties. They are commonly served raw and peeled. The fruit tends to be quite large and fragrant, and when carefully wrapped (it has a tendency to bruise because of its juiciness), it can last for several weeks or more in a cold, dry place. == Culture == Due to their relatively high price and the large size of the fruit of cultivars, the pears tend to be served to guests, given as gifts, or eaten together in a family setting. In cooking, ground pears are used in vinegar- or soy sauce-based sauces as a sweetener, instead of sugar. They are also used when marinating meat, especially beef. In Korea, the fruit is known as ''bae'' (배), and it is grown and consumed in great quantity. In the South Korean city of Naju, there is a museum called The Naju Pear Museum and Pear Orchard for Tourists (나주 배 박물관 및 배밭 관광체험). In Australia, these pears have been commercially produced for more than 25 years.〔(Australian Nashi Growers Association - Growers: history/background ) accessed 6 July 2011〕 In Japan, fruit is harvested in Chiba, Ibaraki, Tottori, Fukushima, Tochigi, Nagano, Niigata, Saitama and other prefectures, except Okinawa. ''Nashi'' (ja:梨) may be used as a late Autumn ''kigo'', or “season word”, when writing haiku. ''Nashi no hana'' (ja:梨の花, pear flower) is also used as a ''kigo'' of spring.〔(The Yuki Teikei Haiku Season Word List ) from the Yuki Teikei Haiku Society (Northern California)〕 At least one city (Kamagaya-Shi, Chiba Prefecture) has the flowers of this tree as an official city flower. In Nepal and the Himalayan states of India, they are called ''nashpati'' and are cultivated as a cash crop in the Middle Hills between about 1,500 and 2,500 meters’ elevation where the climate is suitable. The fruit are carried to nearby markets by human porters or, increasingly, by truck, but not for long distances because they bruise easily. In Taiwan, pears harvested in Japan have become luxurious presents since 1997 and their consumption has jumped. In China, it is considered a social faux pas to share a pear with a friend or loved one. "Sharing a pear" (分梨) is a homophone of "separate" (分离). In Cyprus, the pears were introduced in 2010 after initially being investigated as a new fruit crop for the island in the early 1990s. They are currently grown in Kyperounta.〔(Home-grown Japanese pear officially launched - Cyprus Mail )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Pyrus pyrifolia」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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