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Pistacia (derived indirectly from ancient Persian pista). Anacardiaceae. Trees or shrubs which exude turpentine or mastic. One species of the genus, P. vera, produces the pistachio-nute or pistache of commerce which are used in confectionery and flavoring, and some of the other species are used for ornamental planting and as stock on which to graft the commercial species.

Pistacia (derived indirectly from ancient Persian pista). Anacardiaceae. Trees or shrubs which exude turpentine or mastic. One species of the genus, P. vera, produces the pistachio-nute or pistache of commerce which are used in confectionery and flavoring, and some of the other species are used for ornamental planting and as stock on which to graft the commercial species.

Cultivation of the pistachio, or pistache. (G. P. Rixford.) Several species of Pistacia, P. vera, P. atlantica, P. Lentiscus, P. mutica, P. Terebinthus, P. chinensis, P. mexicana, P. integerrima, and P. verestina, a hybrid, have been introduced into this country by the Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction of the United States Department of Agriculture and are being tested as stocks upon which to work the best varieties of P. vera. The cultivated species of pistache is indigenous to Asia Minor, Syria, and Palestine. It was first brought to Rome, according to Pliny, by Vitellius, then governor of Syria, during the reign of Tiberius early in the first century of the Christian era and was then carried to Spain by Flavius Pompeius. The first introduction into the United States dates from an importation of nuts by the Federal Patent Office in 1853-1854. These nuts were widely distributed throughout the middle and southern states but do not seem to have attracted much attention until trees were introduced into California by the writer, from southern France in 1876, and subsequently by the United States Department of Agriculture at various times up to the present.

Cultivation of the pistachio, or pistache. (G. P. Rixford.) Several species of Pistacia, P. vera, P. atlantica, P. Lentiscus, P. mutica, P. Terebinthus, P. chinensis, P. mexicana, P. integerrima, and P. verestina, a hybrid, have been introduced into this country by the Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction of the United States Department of Agriculture and are being tested as stocks upon which to work the best varieties of P. vera. The cultivated species of pistache is indigenous to Asia Minor, Syria, and Palestine. It was first brought to Rome, according to Pliny, by Vitellius, then governor of Syria, during the reign of Tiberius early in the first century of the Christian era and was then carried to Spain by Flavius Pompeius. The first introduction into the United States dates from an importation of nuts by the Federal Patent Office in 1853-1854. These nuts were widely distributed throughout the middle and southern states but do not seem to have attracted much attention until trees were introduced into California by the writer, from southern France in 1876, and subsequently by the United States Department of Agriculture at various times up to the present.

The best named varieties, a half-dozen in number, have been imported from Syria, Sicily, and other Mediterranean countries and have been extensively propagated at the Government stations, chiefly at Chico, California. During the past seven or eight years, budded trees of the named varieties and seedlings of various species to the extent of 25,000 or 30,000 have been distributed to sections of the southwestern states, chiefly California. The best nuts in market are from the island of Sicily, where wild Terebinthus trees are thinned out and grafted with P. vera cions.

The best named varieties, a half-dozen in number, have been imported from Syria, Sicily, and other Mediterranean countries and have been extensively propagated at the Government stations, chiefly at Chico, California. During the past seven or eight years, budded trees of the named varieties and seedlings of various species to the extent of 25,000 or 30,000 have been distributed to sections of the southwestern states, chiefly California. The best nuts in market are from the island of Sicily, where wild Terebinthus trees are thinned out and grafted with P. vera cions.

In this country, the tree is propagated by either budding or grafting. In nursery rows the stocks are budded when one year old. One experienced nurseryman has best success by the use of dormant buds from old wood inserted in April or May when the bark peels freely. He sometimes takes buds in winter and keeps them in cold storage until ready for use. All the species mentioned above are successfully used for stocks, some, however, give the preference to P. Terebinthus, P. vera, P. mutica, and P. atlantica.

In this country, the tree is propagated by either budding or grafting. In nursery rows the stocks are budded when one year old. One experienced nurseryman has best success by the use of dormant buds from old wood inserted in April or May when the bark peels freely. He sometimes takes buds in winter and keeps them in cold storage until ready for use. All the species mentioned above are successfully used for stocks, some, however, give the preference to P. Terebinthus, P. vera, P. mutica, and P. atlantica.

The trees may be worked either in nursery or in the orchard when the seedlings are well established. In planting the orchard, it is best to put out trees one year from the bud or one or two years from the seed, as the tap-root is large and young trees are most .successfully moved.

The trees may be worked either in nursery or in the orchard when the seedlings are well established. In planting the orchard, it is best to put out trees one year from the bud or one or two years from the seed, as the tap-root is large and young trees are most successfully moved.

 

It is suggested that one form of the commonly cultivated pepper tree, Schinus terebinthifolius, is so closely related to the pistache that it may be used as a stock for P. vera. The vigor, hardiness, and rapid growth of P. chinensis seemed to indicate it as an ideal stock upon which to work P. vera; but the growth of the bud the first year was a disappointment, as when it began to grow the stock in most cases stopped, resulting, at the end of the season, in a top-heavy tree, frequently 3/4 inch above and 1/2 inch below the union. However, the second or third year, the stock overtakes the bud, so that the only precaution required is to stake the tree the first year or two.

It is suggested that one form of the commonly cultivated pepper tree, Schinus terebinthifolius, is so closely related to the pistache that it may be used as a stock for P. vera. The vigor, hardiness, and rapid growth of P. chinensis seemed to indicate it as an ideal stock upon which to work P. vera; but the growth of the bud the first year was a disappointment, as when it began to grow the stock in most cases stopped, resulting, at the end of the season, in a top-heavy tree, frequently 3/4 inch above and 1/2 inch below the union. However, the second or third year, the stock overtakes the bud, so that the only precaution required is to stake the tree the first year or two.

The pistache is a dry-climate tree, somewhat hardier than the fig and olive. When once established in good deep soil, little irrigation is required. It flourishes in the southwestern states wherever the climate permits the growth of the olive. The trees are planted 25 feet apart, and one male to six or seven females must be put out as pollinizers. The males of P. vera blossom first and in some countries these flowers are gathered and preserved in a dry place until the female flowers open; the pollen is then dusted over them. Sometimes twigs of staminate flowers are cut from the tree and pushed into pots of moist earth where they will keep fresh a few days until the pistillate flowers open. P. atlantica male flowers open earlier than the female flowers of P. vera and have served as good pollinizers for the latter. In that case, of course, the seeds of such crosses, if planted, would produce hybrid trees. Sometimes the male cions are grafted into female trees. The male trees are invariably larger and more vigorous than the females.

The pistache is a dry-climate tree, somewhat hardier than the fig and olive. When once established in good deep soil, little irrigation is required. It flourishes in the southwestern states wherever the climate permits the growth of the olive. The trees are planted 25 feet apart, and one male to six or seven females must be put out as pollinizers. The males of P. vera blossom first and in some countries these flowers are gathered and preserved in a dry place until the female flowers open; the pollen is then dusted over them. Sometimes twigs of staminate flowers are cut from the tree and pushed into pots of moist earth where they will keep fresh a few days until the pistillate flowers open. P. atlantica male flowers open earlier than the female flowers of P. vera and have served as good pollinizers for the latter. In that case, of course, the seeds of such crosses, if planted, would produce hybrid trees. Sometimes the male cions are grafted into female trees. The male trees are invariably larger and more vigorous than the females.

The cultivated species of Pistacia.

The cultivated species of Pistacia.

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{{Taxobox

| color = lightgreen

{{edit-cult}}<!--- Type cultivation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->

 

| image = Pistacia chinensis.jpg

===Propagation===

| image_width = 240px

| image_caption = ''Pistacia chinensis'' with autumn colour

 

| regnum = [[Plant]]ae

===Pests and diseases===

| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]

| classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]

 

==Species==

| genus = ''Pistacia''

| subdivision_ranks = Species

''Pistacia afghanistania''<br/>

''Pistacia afghanistania''<br/>

''Pistacia atlantica'' - [[Betoum]]<br/>

''Pistacia atlantica'' - [[Betoum]]<br/>

''Pistacia vera'' - [[Pistachio]]<br/>

''Pistacia vera'' - [[Pistachio]]<br/>

''Pistacia wienmannifolia

''Pistacia wienmannifolia

''Pistacia'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Pavonia pavonia|Emperor Moth]].

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The most important species is the [[Pistachio]] (''Pistacia vera''), grown for its edible [[seed]]s. The seeds of the other species were also eaten in prehistory, but too small to be worth eating today.  

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The [[Mastic]] (''Pistacia lentiscus'') is a [[shrub]] or small tree of the Mediterranean region with evergreen leaves. The [[resin]] mastic is obtained from it, and is often chewed by people in [[Turkey]]. Mastic resin is also used in [[varnish]]es and in [[medicine]] as a mild [[stimulant]].  

*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->

<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->

<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->

The [[Chinese Pistache]] (''Pistacia chinensis'') is grown as an ornamental tree, valued for its bright red autumn leaf colour; it is also the most frost-tolerant species in the genus.

[[Category:Categorize]]

[[Category:Sapindales]]

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