pyrifolia

Pyrifolia is a botanical epithet used in the scientific names of several plant species to indicate pear-like or pear-shaped leaves. In binomial nomenclature, pyrifolia (and the gendered forms pyrifolius or pyrifolium) is used to describe a characteristic leaf morphology rather than a distinct genus or standalone species. The term derives from Latin roots associated with pears and leaves, reflecting a diagnostic trait observed by taxonomists.

The most widely known example is Pyrus pyrifolia, the Asian pear or Nashi, a deciduous tree in the Rosaceae family native to East Asia. This species is cultivated for its round, crisp fruit, which resembles an apple in texture while bearing the sweetness of a pear. The tree typically grows to several meters in height, with broad leaves, white blossoms in spring, and fruit that ripens in late summer to autumn. Varieties differ in fruit size, skin color, and sweetness, and the fruit is consumed fresh, canned, or used in cooking.

Beyond Pyrus pyrifolia, the epithet pyrifolia occurs in other genera as well, applied to species whose leaves are notably pear-shaped or pear-like. Because taxonomic names reflect morphology, pyrifolia signals a consistent leaf trait across different lineages, even as the exact plant form and distribution vary by species.