Pear is an edible fruit native to central and eastern Europe and southwest Asia. Often planted in orchards, the familiar pear tree is a small-medium sized tree. The alternate leaves are shiny and usually oval but pointed, abd finely toothed. The highly distinctive bark is grey and square-cracked. Buds are brown and pointed. Clusters of showy white flowers, 1.5-2 cm across, appear before or with the leaves.