PISTACIA 195 



P. ATLANTICA, Desfontaines. MT. ATLAS MASTIC. 



A deciduous tree up to 40 ft. high in N. Africa. Leaves pinnate, consisting 

 of five to nine leaflets, the common stalk winged. Leaflets lanceolate, i to ii- 

 ins. long, rounded at the apex, smooth. Flowers in axillary pyramidal 

 panicles 2 to 4 ins. long. Fruit obovoid, rather depressed at the end, \ in. 

 long, dark blue when fully ripe. 



Native of Algeria ; producing a resin somewhat similar to that of P. Lentiscus, 

 which is chewed by the Arabs as a dentifrice. It needs some protection in 

 the ordinary climate of Great Britain, but will probably succeed in the south- 

 western counties. 



P. CHINENSIS, Bunge. CHINESE PISTACHIO. 



A large deciduous tree up to 80 ft. high in Central China. Leaves evenly 

 pinnate, about 9 ins. long, composed of usually ten or twelve leaflets, generally 

 but not invariably without' the terminal odd one. Leaflets ovate-lanceolate, 

 long-pointed, unequally divided by the midrib, 2| to 3^ ins. long, f in. wide ; 

 smooth except when quite young. Flowers in a cluster of panicles near the 

 end of the shoot, the male flowers crowded on an inflorescence 3 ins. long, 

 the female ones on a much more open, lax panicle 7 to 9 ins. long. Fruit the 

 size of large peppercorns, first red, then blue. 



Native of Central and W. China, where the young shoots and leaves are 

 eaten cooked as a vegetable by the Chinese. This is undoubtedly the best of 

 the Pistacias to cultivate in England. It was originally introduced to Kew 

 by means of seed in 1897, and is apparently perfectly hardy, never having 

 suffered in the least from cold up to now, although quite unprotected. It 

 has no beauty of flower, but the foliage is of a glossy, cheerful green, and 

 Mr Wilson (who sent home seeds during his 1908 and 1910 journeys in China) 

 tells me that it turns a gorgeous crimson before falling in autumn, rendering 

 a large tree one of the most glorious pictures conceivable. 



P. LENTISCUS, Linnczus. MASTIC. 



An evergreen bush or small tree, occasionally 15 or 20 ft. high ; young 

 shoots warted, not downy. The leaves are evenly pinnate, consisting of four 

 to ten leaflets without a terminal odd one ; the common stalk is winged. 

 Leaflets f to \\ ins. long, \ to \ in. wide ; narrowly oblong to obovate, smooth, 

 with a very short, abrupt point." Flowers very densely packed in short axillary 

 panicles I to 2 ins. long. Fruit first red, then black, about the size of large 

 peppercorns. 



Native of the Mediterranean region, especially of the Grecian Archipelago ; 

 introduced in 1664. In the islands of the Archipelago, especially Scios, it 

 produces by incision of the bark the resinous substance known as "mastic." 

 Mastic is chiefly used by the Greeks and Turks for chewing, to sweeten the 

 breath and preserve the teeth. The tree is tender and needs the protection 

 of a warm wall. There is a larger, broader-leaved variety with leaves up to 

 2 ins. long and f in. wide, known as LATI FOLIA. 



P. TEREBINTHUS, Linnaus. CHIAN TURPENTINE TREE. 



A deciduous tree 30 ft. or more high, sometimes a. bush ; with smooth, 

 pinnate leaves up to 6 or 8 ins. long. Leaflets usually seven or nine, ovate- 

 lanceolate to oblong, i^ to i\ ins. long, entire, lustrous dark green, glabrous. 



