The descriptive text, below the map, is from the Cornish Red Data Book (2009). The map on this web page depicts the organisms distribution and shows the records made pre-2000 and those made since.
Range & Status
Native; Oceanic Temperate species, found from Portugal to Devon and Cornwall. A very rare tree known in only two areas in Britain, one in Plymouth, England, the other in Truro, Cornwall.
Regional Distribution
Since its discovery in Britain in 1870, it has been recorded in just two localities in Cornwall, one in East Cornwall, the other in West Cornwall. It has not been seen in East Cornwall since 1932, but five sites are now known in one small area, near Truro (SW74 and2 SW84) in West Cornwall. Together these sites support about 100 young and mature plants, with several individuals flowering and fruiting.
Habitat & Ecology
Plymouth Pear occurs in roadside thickets and is also associated with very old hedges that enclose or border small fields.
Threats
It can be affected by unsuitable hedge management.
Conservation
The Carrine Common area is a SAC. For conservation purposes it has been planted at a number of sites.
I.J. Bennallick, S. Board, C.N. French, P.A. Gainey, C. Neil, R. Parslow, A. Spalding and P.E. Tompsett. eds. 2009. Red Data Book for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. 2nd Edition.Croceago Press.
The Cornish Red Data Book Project was led by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Federation for Biological Recorders (CISFBR). The full text and species accounts (minus the maps) are available on the CISFBR website.