Practical
Plants

Pistacia lentiscus

Mastic Tree

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Pistacia genus in the family Pistaciaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
5 m
Spread
3 m
Fertility
self sterile
Flower type
dioecious

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A sweet liquorice-flavoured resin, called 'mastic', is obtained from incisions made into the bark of the trunk, but not into the wood[8][3][17][18][7]. The odour is agreeable and the taste mild and resinous, when chewed it becomes soft and so can easily be masticated[14]. It is chewed to strengthen the gums and as a breath sweetener and also used as a flavouring in puddings, sweets (including 'Turkish delight') cakes etc[8][7]. It is also the basis of a Greek confectionery called 'masticha' and a liqueur called 'mastiche'[7][12]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[8][21][2].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Gum
Product or use
Oil

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Mastic was at one time greatly used in herbal medicine, the resin obtained from the tree (see below for more details) being used[14]. It is little used in modern herbalism though it could be employed as an expectorant for bronchial troubles and coughs and as a treatment for diarrhoea[13]. The resin is analgesic, antitussive, carminative, diuretic, expectorant, odontalgic, sedative and stimulant[14][15][10]. It is mixed with other substances and used as a temporary filling for carious teeth[14][19][13]. Internally it is used in the treatment of diarrhoea in children[14][19] and externally it is applied to boils, ulcers, ringworm and muscular stiffness[12][13].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Antitussive
Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Odontalgic
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Stimulant

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The resin 'mastic' is obtained by making incisions in the bark (not the trunk) of the tree from mid summer to the autumn[12]. It can be dried and used as a powder, or distilled for oil and essence[12]. It is used in high grade varnishes, as a fixative in perfumes, tooth pastes, glue (especially for false beards), embalming, a temporary filling for teeth etc[19][3][15][17][18][6][9][12]. It is used to seal the edges of microscope mounts and is also chewed to preserve the teeth and gums[18]. An oil obtained from the seed is used for lighting, soap making etc[19][21]. The leaves contain up to 19% tannin, they are often used as an adulterant of sumac, Rhus coriaria[11].

Product or use
Microscope
Product or use
Oil
Product or use
Resin
Product or use
Tannin

Environment

Range
Europe - Mediterranean.
Habitat
Open woods and scrub on dry hillsides[16], usually by the coast[18].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Pre-soak the seed for 16 hours in alkalized water[20], or for 3 - 4 days in warm water[1], and sow late winter in a cold frame or greenhouse[20][4]. Two months cold stratification may speed up germination, so it might be better to sow the seed in early winter[4]. The germination is variable and can be slow. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow on the plants for at least their first winter in a greenhouse. Plant out into their permanent positions in early summer and consider giving some protection from winter cold for their first year or two outdoors[K]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood from juvenile trees, July in a frame[4]. Layering.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in any ordinary garden soil[1][3], preferring a hot dry position in full sun[5]. Prefers a well-drained to dry sandy or stony alkaline soil[12]. This species is not very hardy in Britain. It normally requires the protection of a south-facing wall[3][9] but can succeed in a hot dry position in the milder areas of the country[5]. The mastic tree is cultivated in southern Europe for its resin[15]. It is a very variable plant, a form with broad leaves yielding the best resin[18]. It is likely to need long hot and dry summers in order to yield its resin, and so is unlikely to produce it very freely in Britain. Any pruning that needs to be done is best carried out in the spring[12]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  6. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩

  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  10. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩

  11. Rottsieper. E.H.W. Vegetable Tannins The Forestal Land, Timber and Railways Co. Ltd. 1946-00-00

    ↩

  12. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  13. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3

  14. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  15. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  16. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  17. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

    ↩1↩2

  18. Howes. F. N. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Faber

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  19. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  20. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  21. Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7012-0784-1

    ↩1↩2

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