View source for Pistachio

{{SPlantbox
|familia=Anacardiaceae
|genus=Pistacia
|species=vera
|taxo_author=L.
|common_name=Pistachio
|habit=tree
|lifespan=perennial
|features=deciduous, flowers, edible
|Temp Metric=°F
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
|image=Pistacia vera Kerman.jpg
|image_width=240
|image_caption=Pistachio with ripening fruit
}}
The '''pistachio''' (''Pistacia vera'', [[Anacardiaceae]]; sometimes placed in Pistaciaceae) is a small [[tree]] up to 10 m tall, native to mountainous regions of central and southwestern [[Asia]] such as the [[Kopet Dag]] mountains of [[Turkmenistan]] southwest to northeastern [[Iran]] and western [[Afghanistan]]. It has [[deciduous]] [[pinnate]] [[leaf|leaves]] 10-20 cm long. 

The plants are [[plant sexuality|dioecious]], with separate male and female trees. The [[flower]]s are [[apetalous]] and unisexual, and borne in [[panicle]]s. The [[fruit]] is a [[drupe]], containing an elongated [[seed]] (a [[nut (fruit)#Culinary definition and uses|nut]] in the culinary sense, but not a true [[nut (fruit)#Botanical definition|botanical nut]]) with a hard, whitish shell and a striking light green kernel, having a very characteristic flavour. 

When the fruit ripens, the shells split open partially (see photo). This happens with an audible ''pop'', and legend has it that lovers who stand under a pistachio tree at night and hear the nuts popping open will have good luck.