Pistacia lentiscus L.

A small evergreen shrub. It grows to about 1-3 m high and can spread to 3 m wide. It can be 7 m high. The leaves are 10 cm long and there are wings on the leaf stalk. The leaves are compound with several pairs (2-7) of leathery leaflets. There is no leaflet at the end. The flowers are at the tips of shoots. The male flowers are in dense panicles 3 cm long with red stamens. The female flowers are greenish and in 6 cm long loose panicles. The fruit are round and red. The fruit are 5 mm across and become black when they are ripe.

It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It will grow on most soils. It likes a protected sunny position. It cannot grow in shade. It is drought and frost tender. It suits hardiness zones 8-11.

The nut inside the fruit is edible. They are eaten raw or roasted. The sap is used to flavour an alcoholic beverage. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer. It is also used in puddings, cookies, cakes and candies. The gum is used for texture and binding but gives some flavour. It is chewed as a breath freshener. It is sweet and has a liquorice flavour. The seeds yield an edible oil. The young leaves and leaf buds are eaten. They can be eaten raw as a snack or in yoghurt salad.

Plants can be grown from seed.