Fig. 14. PlSTACIA LiENTISCrS, THE MASTIC. 



THE PISTACIAS. 



CHAPTER Y. 



THE Mastic or Lentisc (Pistacia Lentiscus or Lentiscum, 

 Fig. 14) is the chief constituent of the underwood in this 

 region. It is a dioecious, apetalous, evergreen shrub, 

 with paripinnate leaves and winged petiole. There is 

 no British wild plant of the Terebinth order to which 

 the Mastic belongs, but several species are common 

 here on the hills, while several others are cultivated in 

 the gardens ; and all are of considerable interest. 



I have called the Mastic a shrub, but the fact is 

 that if permitted to develop, it may become a tree. 

 In the Villa Giribaldi, at Bordighera, there is a mag- 

 nificent Mastic, probably one of the largest in 

 existence. This proves that the plant can become 

 arborescent on the Kiviera. I think that it would 



