Pistacia terebinthus
Terebinth
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Pistacia genus in the family Pistaciaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Pistaciaceae
- Genus
- Pistacia
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- slow
- Height
- 9 m
- Spread
- 6 m
- Fertility
- self sterile
- Flower type
- dioecious
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - raw or cooked[7]. Sweetish[8]. It is sweeter and oilier than an almond[9]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[5][8]. The immature fruits, including the stems, are preserved in vinegar and salt. Known as 'atsjaar', they are used as a relish to accompany wines served during meals[8]. The fruit is about 7mm long and 6 mm wide, it contains a single seed[10]. Young leaves - cooked and used as a vegetable[7][8]. A resin from the trunk is used as a vegetable and as a chewing gum[7][8].
- Plant part
- Fruit
- Product or use
- Gum
- Product or use
- Oil
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Seed
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.
The resin obtained from this tree (see below for more details) is antiseptic, antispasmodic, cytostatic, expectorant and vulnerary[2][11]. It is taken internally in the treatment of chronic bronchial infections, streptococcal, urinary and renal infections, haemorrhage, gallstones, tapeworm and rheumatism[11]. Externally, it is used to treat arthritis, gout, sciatica, scabies and lice[11]. It has also been used in the treatment of cancer[2].
- Product or use
- Cytostatic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Yields the resin 'Cyprus turpentine', which is obtained from incisions made in the bark (not the trunk) of the tree[1][9][3][13][5][10]. The incisions are made from mid summer to mid autumn[11]. It is mainly used medicinally in the treatment of cancer[2] and also as a chewing gum. The plant can be used as a rootstock for the pistachio nut, P. vera[3]. A red dye is obtained from galls that are formed on the leaves by aphis[2]. The plant is a source of tannin[13].
- Product or use
- Dye
- Product or use
- Resin
- Product or use
- Tannin
Environment
- Range
- Europe - Mediterranean.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 9+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, 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[15], or for 3 - 4 days in warm water[1], and sow late winter in a cold frame or greenhouse[15][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.
Requires a deep well-drained light soil[18], preferring a hot dry position in full sun[17]. It grows best in a sandy to stony alkaline soil[19].
This species is hardy in most of Britain but it is slow growing[16][18]. This contradicts the report, also in[18], that this plant is only hardy to zone 9 and is therefore intolerant of anything other than the lightest frosts. Any pruning that needs to be done is best carried out in the spring[19].
Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009
Rosengarten. jnr. F. The Book of Edible Nuts. Walker & Co. 1984-00-00 ISBN 0802707699
Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Polunin. O. Flowers of Greece and the Balkans. Oxford University Press 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-19-217626-9
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent (1990-00-00)
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)