Mastic tree

Mastic Tree

The Mastic Tree (Pistacia lentiscus), also known as the Lentisk, is a dioecious evergreen shrub or small tree in the cashew family, Anacardiaceae. It is native to the Mediterranean region, from Morocco and Iberian Peninsula in the west through southern France and Turkey to Iran and the Canary Islands in the east.

Description

The Mastic Tree grows up to 4 m (13 ft) tall. The leaves are alternate, leathery, and compound paripinnate (no terminal leaflet), with five or six pairs of deep-green leaflets. The flowers are small, white to greenish, and produced in loose clusters. The fruit is a small, pea-sized berry, red to black when ripe.

Cultivation and Uses

The Mastic Tree is cultivated for its aromatic resin, mainly on the Greek island of Chios. The resin, known as mastic, is harvested as a spice from the cultivated mastic trees grown in the south of the island. It is used in cooking, in the production of chewing gum, in pharmaceuticals, and in perfumery.

Ecology

The Mastic Tree is well adapted to the conditions of the Mediterranean region, including its dry summers, mild winters, and poor, rocky soils. It is a pioneer species, often found in early successional stages of plant communities.

Cultural Significance

In Greek folklore, the Mastic Tree is associated with the legend of the weeping mastic tree. According to the legend, when Saint Isidore was tortured and died, the mastic trees in the island of Chios wept, and since then, they have bled mastic.

See Also

• Pistacia
• Mastic (plant resin)
• Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub

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