| Pistachio
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Pistachios (in the shell and out of it)
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| Scientific classification
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| Species
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Pistacia atlantica
Pistacia chinensis
Pistacia lentiscus
Pistacia mexicana
Pistacia taxiferum
Pistacia terebinthus
Pistacia vera
Ref: ITIS 28806 (http://www.itis.usda.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=28806) 2002-08-16
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The Pistachio (Pistacia vera, Anacardiaceae; sometimes placed in Pistaciaceae) is a small tree to 10 m tall, with deciduous pinnate leaves native to southwestern Asia (Iran west to Syria and Palestine). From there, it has been introduced in cultivation to the rest of the Mediterranean region by Roman times or earlier, and more recently to California and Australia.
The apetalous flowers are unisexual and borne in panicles and the plants are dioecious. One male can pollinate about 12 nut-bearing females. Trees planted in orchards are usually pruned to size to make the harvest easier.
The fruit is a drupe, containing an elongated seed with a striking light green kernel, having a very characteristic flavor. The kernels are used in ice cream, confections such as baklava, and are also eaten whole, roasted and salted. When the fruit ripens, the shells split open partially (see photo). This happens with an audible pop, and legend has it that lovers who stand under a pistachio tree at night and hear the nuts popping open will have good luck.
The shell of the pistachio is naturally a beige colour, but it is sometimes dyed red in commercial pistachios. Originally the red dye was applied by importers to hide stains on the shells caused when the nuts were picked by hand. However most pistachios are now picked by machine and the shells remain unstained, making dyeing unnecessary (except that many consumers expect red pistachios).
Related to the true pistachio tree is Pistacia lentiscus, a shrub or small tree of the Mediterranean region with evergreen pinnately compound leaves. From it is obtained a resin, mastic, which is often chewed by the natives of Turkey. Mastic is used in varnishes and in medicine as a mild stimulant. Another species is Pistacia terebinthus, a native of the eastern Mediterranean countries, which yields China turpentine.
Diseases
Botryosphaeria panicle and shoot blight.
History
Pistachios have been a part of the human diet at least since the late paleolithic. One of the best places where it grows in abundance has historically been central parts of Iran. The word pistachio itself is perhaps a Middle Persian loanword into English and may be a cognate to the Modern Persian word پسته Pesteh.
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