There is evidence of the pear being used as a food since prehistoric times. Many traces of it have been found in Swiss lake-dwellings and the word "pear" occurs in Celtic languages. There is even a recipe for a spiced, stewed-pear patina (or souffle) in the Roman cookbook attributed to Apicius.
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/-g8MYtcpw74s/VJsrTkSWFQI/AAAAAAAADJI/btuqBFfjpqo/s1600/220px-Pears.jpg) |
Photo: USDA Keith Weller |
![Pear under the microscope Pear prepared slide under the microscope at 40x.](//1.bp.blogspot.com/-bdD5a2TwTgU/VJsr7q5SxAI/AAAAAAAADJQ/vNITdgnkVEc/s1600/Pear-Section-40x.jpg) |
Cross section of a pear captured under the microscope at 40x magnification. |
![Pear under biological microscope Pear under the microscope at 100x magnification.](//4.bp.blogspot.com/-f9___A-uwnY/VJssKU-3mSI/AAAAAAAADJY/jNJa09wmJBQ/s1600/Pear-Section-100x.jpg) |
Cross section of a pear captured under the microscope at 100x magnification. |
![Pear under the microscope Pear under a biological microscope at 400x magnification.](//1.bp.blogspot.com/-W4foKA6Lbd4/VJsvQrMHMkI/AAAAAAAADJk/Kt3NMimhhHI/s1600/Pear-Section-400x.jpg) |
Cross section of a pear captured under the microscope at 400x magnification. |