Pistacia lentiscus L.
Mastic
Scientific name: Pistacia lentiscus L.
Family: Anacardiaceae
Origin: Mediterranean
Year of plantation: Unknown
Flowering: May – July
Pistacia lentiscus
Description
It is a leafy shrub with a resinous smell. It can reach up to 8 metres in height.
It is found in the undergrowth of most pine and holm oak forests in the Mediterranean coastal climate. Its leaves are dark green.
The flowers are grouped together (inflorescence), dense and greenish or red in colour. The fruit is very small and not very fleshy, red at first and more black when ripe.
Marimurtra’s specimens
Most of the walk along the cliff is covered with mastic trees.
There you can see a large specimen next to the guards’ tower. It has a twisted trunk, and is about 4 metres high and 15 centimetres in diameter. It has grown twisted due to the wind.
Did you know that…?
Several species of insects lay their eggs inside the leaves of the mastic tree.
They are then deformed and look like a reddish pod or legume. This protects the plant from herbivorous animals: they think the plant is sick and do not eat it.
From its sap a gum similar to chewing gum is produced, and the resin is used to make poisons and medicines.
In Greece it is used to make mastika liquor.
Threat level (UICN)
Main uses
Raunkiaer Life Forms
