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Trees- ShrubsMastic Tree (Pistacia lentiscus)
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The Mastic Tree belongs to the Family Anacardiaceae and is found within the genus Pistacia. This genus contains 10 different species of evergreen and deciduous shrubs and trees (1). The Mastic Tree can be found as a shrub or small tree, ranging between one and four meters in height. Its’ leaves are compound with, usually, an even number of leaflets (between four and ten). The flowers form compound clusters. The fruits are called drupes and they are small and red. At maturity these fruits turn black (4). It is commonly used as an ornamental plant, however it can still be found in the wild (1). The variety P. Lentiscus var. chia can be found in Chios and the resin of this tree is used to produce mastic. This mastic is used in pastries, pharmaceutics and in distilleries (2).
It is a perennial, evergreen, species that can live for over 100 years. It flowers in the spring, between March and May (2).
It prefers dry and warm regions, and especially likes maquis habitat, but it can be found in coastal areas also (3). It grows best in soils with a limestone base which are well-drained. It is wind-tolerant and it is not affected by salt spray from the sea (4).
Pistacia lentiscus is a species native to Greece. Asides from this it can be found within many areas of the Mediterranean sea and Portugal (4).
Not mentioned on the IUCN Red List (5).
Description translated by Anna Theodoridou (2009)
(1) Κ.Α. Ποντίκης, (1996), Ειδική Δενδροκομία-τόμος Δεύτερος, εκδ. Σταμούλη.
(2) Γ.Π. Σαρλής, (1999), Συστηματική Βοτανική-Εφαρμογές Κορμοφύτων, εκδ. Σταμούλη.
(3) Sfikas. G. (2001) Trees and Shrubs of Greece, Efstathiadis Group S.A., Greece
(4) Θ.Ι. Αραμπατζής, (2001), Θάμνοι Και Δέντρα Στην Ελλάδα-Τόμος ΙΙ, ΤΕΙ Καβάλας.
(5) IUCN (2009) IUCN Red List of Threatened Species [online] Available:
http://www.iucnredlist.org [date accessed: 22/07/2009]
