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Pistacia vera
  • Pistachio

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

Pistacio vera Kerman 2.jpg
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline,very alkaline
    Acid to Very alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 9
    Zone 9
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Pistacia vera has 3 edible uses listed
Pistacia vera has 2 material uses listed
Pistacia vera has 3 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Seed - raw or cooked[1][2][3][4]. The seed is rich in oil and has a pleasant mild flavour[1]. It is very nice when eaten raw and is also widely used in confectionery, ice cream, cakes, pies etc[5].

An edible oil is obtained from the seed but is not produced commercially due to the high price of the seed[5].

The fruits can be made into a flavourful marmalade[5].

Fruit

Unknown use

Unknown part

Oil

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

The seed yields up to 40% of a non-drying oil. It is not used commercially due to the high value of the seed for food[5]. Male trees yield a small quantity of a high grade resin. It is used in paints, lacquers etc[4].

Unknown part

Oil
Resin

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The plant is used in China for the treatment of abdominal ailments, abscesses, amenorrhoea, bruises, chest ailments, circulation, dysentery, gynecopathy, pruritus, rheumatism, sclerosis of the liver, sores and trauma[6]. The seed is said to be sedative and tonic[7].

Unknown part

Miscellany
Sedative
Tonic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 16 hours in alkalized water[8], or for 3 - 4 days in warm water[9], and sow late winter in a cold frame or greenhouse[8][10]. Two months cold stratification may speed up germination, so it might be better to sow the seed in early winter[10]. 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[10].

Layering.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Pistacia vera. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a sunny position in a deep well-drained light soil[11]. Succeeds in dry soils. Does well in light calcareous soils[11]. Grows well on poor soils[11]. Prefers long hot summers and low humidity[11].

Plants are not very hardy in Britain and are unlikely to succeed outdoors in any but the mildest areas of the country. They will be hardier in areas with long hot summers that will thoroughly ripen the wood. Plants are prone to fungal root rots[11]. The pistachio nut is often cultivated for its edible seed in warm temperate areas, there are many named forms[5]. It is very unlikely to produce a crop of seeds in Britain, simply because the summers here are not hot enough or long enough[K]. 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. One male plant for every five females is adequate[11].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Pistacia vera. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Pistacia vera.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Pistacia vera
Genus
Pistacia
Family
Pistaciaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5]
Medicinal uses
[6][7]
Material uses & Functions
[5][4]
Botanic
[13][11]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
  • Fruit (Unknown use)
  • Unknown part (Oil)
  • Seed (Unknown use)
Material uses
  • Unknown part (Oil)
  • Unknown part (Resin)
Medicinal uses
  • Unknown part (Miscellany)
  • Unknown part (Sedative)
  • Unknown part (Tonic)
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
9
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
  • Drought
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
None listed.
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
deciduous
Herbaceous or Woody
woody
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
?
Mature Size
10 x meters
Fertility
self sterile
Pollinators
?
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
dioecious











References

  1. ? 1.01.11.2 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.14.24.3 Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation (1968-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.45.55.6 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.1 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
  7. ? 7.07.1 Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. (1986-00-00)
  8. ? 8.08.1 Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)
  9. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
  10. ? 10.010.110.2 Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press ISBN 0942375009 (1987-00-00)
  11. ? 11.011.111.211.311.411.511.6 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  12. ? Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
  13. ? Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named PFAFimport-11


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Facts about "Pistacia vera"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyPistaciaceae +
Belongs to genusPistacia +
Has binomial namePistacia vera +
Has common namePistachio +
Has drought toleranceTolerant +
Has edible partFruit +, Unknown part + and Seed +
Has edible useUnknown use + and Oil +
Has environmental toleranceDrought +
Has fertility typeSelf sterile +
Has flowers of typeDioecious +
Has hardiness zone9 +
Has imagePistacio vera Kerman 2.jpg +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has material partUnknown part +
Has material useOil + and Resin +
Has mature height10 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useMiscellany +, Sedative + and Tonic +
Has primary imagePistacio vera Kerman 2.jpg +
Has salinity tolerance
Has search namepistacia vera + and pistachio +
Has seed requiring scarification
Has seed requiring stratification
Has seed with dormancy depth
Has shade toleranceNo shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral +, Alkaline + and Very alkaline +
Has soil texture preferenceSandy + and Loamy +
Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
Has taxonomy namePistacia vera +
Has thumbnail
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Is deciduous or evergreenDeciduous +
Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
PFAF cultivation notes migrated No +
PFAF edible use notes migrated No +
PFAF material use notes migrated No +
PFAF medicinal use notes migrated No +
PFAF propagation notes migrated No +
PFAF toxicity notes migrated Yes +
Tolerates air pollution
Tolerates maritime exposure
Tolerates nutritionally poor soil
Tolerates wind
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +