Wild pear (pyrus pyraster)
 
Appearance:
The wild pear is a small tree and reaches a maximum height of 15 to 20 meters. If there is a lack of light, however, it often grows like a bush and reaches heights of 3-5 meters. Their bark is gray and scaly. The long-stalked leaves are round heart-shaped and finely serrated on the edge. The white flowers appear in April to May before the leaves shoot. Its brownish yellow fruits are 6-8 cm long and hang on weakly thorny branches.
 
Occurrence:
The wild pear grows on nutrient-rich, moderately fresh to dry, alkaline-rich loamy soils. It loves lime and does not tolerate waterlogging. Since it needs a lot of light, the wild pear has become rare today. Under normal forest conditions, the wild pear is often pushed to the dry line of the forest by more competitive trees, where the other trees can no longer grow optimally.Thanks to their drought tolerance and the great need for light, the wild pear is very well suited for the fringes of climate-stable mixed forests.
 
Ecological importance:
The early flowering of the wild pear in April makes it an important supplier of nectar for many insects. Their fruits are in great demand and serve as food for various animals such as the badger or the hedgehog.
 
Economic importance:
The economic importance of the wild pear is relatively minor, as the trunk diameter and length are often too small for sawn timber production. When trunks reach larger dimensions, the wood is very popular with carpenters for decorative furniture. Otherwise, their wood is mainly used as firewood.