Chinese Pistache
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Chinese Pistache | ||||||||||||||
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 Pistacia chinensis with autumn colour
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| Pistacia chinensis L. |
Chinese Pistache (Pistacia chinensis) is a small to medium-sized tree native to central and western China. It is hardy and can withstand harsh conditions as well as poor quality soil.
It grows from 9-15 m tall, exceptionally up to 25 m. The leaves are deciduous, pinnate, 20-25 cm long, with 10 or 12 leaflets, the terminal leaflet usually (but not invariably) absent. The flowers are produced in panicles 15-20 cm long at the ends of the branches; it is dioecious, with separate male and female plants. The fruit is a small red drupe containing a single seed. Chinese Pistache grows best in full sun, being intolerant of shade; it is the most frost-tolerant species of Pistacia, tolerating temperatures down to about -25°C. Yet it is most highly regarded in warm climates. It is planted for its impressive fall colors, which develop at least as far south as Orlando, Florida. In the low-elevation deserts of Arizona, it is the only tree whose leaves turn scarlet in fall.
In China the oil from the seeds is used for biodiesel production.
