Baneh

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Atlantic Pistachio
• Cashew
• Mount Atlas Mastic
• Turpentine tree
• Wild pistachio
• Mount Atlas Pistachio
• Mount Atlas mastic tree
• Mt. Atlas mastic tree
• Persian turpentine tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lentiscus mutica
• Pistacia atlantica subsp. mutica
• Pistacia atlantica subsp. cypricola
• Pistacia cabulica
• Lentiscus atlantica
• Pistacia chia
• Terebinthus atlanticus
• Pistacia atlantica subsp. cabulica
• Pistacia mutica
• Pistacia atlantica var. latifolia
• Pistacia mutica subsp. cabulica
• Pistacia mutica f. multijuga
• Pistacia mutica var. cypricola
• Pistacia atlantica f. oxycarpa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Sapindales and the family Anacardiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Pistacia, specifically as the species Pistacia atlantica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across multiple continents and regions. In Southeastern Europe, it can be found growing in Greece and within the European portion of Türkiye. Its range extends further into Eastern Europe, specifically reaching the region of Krym. Moving toward Northern Africa, the species is established in Algeria. Finally, its presence is also noted within the territory of Libya.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pistacia atlantica is characterized by its ability to thrive across diverse topographical and hydrological settings, primarily inhabiting mountains, riverine areas, and saline places. It occupies a significant vertical distribution within its ecosystem, maintaining an elevational range that begins at 600 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 2500 m AMSL. This broad altitudinal span allows the species to adapt to varying climatic gradients and soil compositions found throughout its native mountainous landscapes.

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

600 m AMSL

Habitat :

mountains, rivers, saline places

Life history

The life history of Pistacia atlantica is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to establish long-term presence within its ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are elevated above the ground level on woody stems, a structural adaptation that facilitates its growth into a substantial tree or shrub. This species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage seasonally in response to environmental cues or climatic shifts. Its developmental strategy is defined by this phanerophyte life form, ensuring structural stability and longevity throughout its extensive life cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pistacia atlantica is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which serves as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or liana. As a terrestrial organism, it does not exhibit aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic tendencies, functioning instead as an independent plant without parasitic behavior. The species typically reaches a plant height ranging from a minimum of 4 meters to a maximum of 15 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height min:

4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pistacia atlantica is characterized by its adaptation to arid and semi-arid environments, utilizing a C3 photosynthetic pathway to drive carbon fixation. This metabolic route involves the direct fixation of atmospheric CO2 via the enzyme Rubisco, which is typical for many woody Mediterranean species. Morphologically, the plant exhibits a distinct leaf structure, featuring an imparipinnate leaf form, which influences its surface area and transpiration rates within its ecological niche. These physiological and structural traits work in tandem to manage water use efficiency and energy production under varying light intensities and moisture availability.

Leaf form :

imparipinnate

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pistacia atlantica is characterized by a dioecious sexual reproduction system, meaning individual plants are either male or female. The flowering process typically begins in March and concludes around April, featuring green-colored flowers arranged in paniculate inflorescences. These inflorescences are relatively small, ranging in length from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.15 m. Following pollination, the plant produces fleshy fruits that are distinctively red in color. The fruits are quite uniform in size, with a length of 0.6 cm and a width ranging between 0.55 cm and 0.6 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds possess a mean mass of approximately 0.120106667 g, with individual seed masses varying from a minimum of 0.11529 g to a maximum of 0.12658 g. Additionally, the seeds maintain a consistent volume of 75 mm³.

Flower colour :

green

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

Apr

Fruit colour :

red

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

0.6 cm

Fruit width max:

0.6 cm

Fruit width min:

0.55 cm

Inflorescence :

panicle

Inflorescence length max:

0.15 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.1 m

Reproduction sexual :

dioecious

Seed mass max:

0.12658 g

Seed mass mean:

0.120106667 g

Seed mass min:

0.11529 g

Seed volume max:

75 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pistacia atlantica has 2 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit.

Leaf

1. Microbial pathogenesis
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. Natural product research
4. Recent patents on anti-infective drug discovery

Fruit

1. Natural product communications
2. Recent patents on anti-infective drug discovery

Chemicals

Pistacia atlantica has 27 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Fatty acids, Gallic acid, RUTIN, quercetin.

Flavonoids

1. Recent patents on food, nutrition & agriculture
2. Acta chimica Slovenica
3. Food science & nutrition
4. Chemistry & biodiversity
5. Natural product research

Fatty acids

1. Natural product communications
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Gallic acid

1. Recent patents on food, nutrition & agriculture
2. Acta chimica Slovenica

RUTIN

1. Recent patents on food, nutrition & agriculture
2. Microbial pathogenesis

quercetin

1. Recent patents on food, nutrition & agriculture
2. Acta chimica Slovenica

CALCIUM

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

CAMPESTEROL

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

CATECHIN

1. Recent patents on food, nutrition & agriculture

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Acta chimica Slovenica

COPPER

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Pistacia atlantica has 18 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Anticholinesterase, Antimicrobial, Analgesic.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of medicine and life
2. Recent patents on food, nutrition & agriculture
3. Acta chimica Slovenica
4. Chemistry & biodiversity
5. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of medicine and life
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anticholinesterase

1. Recent patents on food, nutrition & agriculture
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antibacterial

1. Acta chimica Slovenica

Anticancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antifungal

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antihyperglycemic

1. JBRA assisted reproduction

Antihyperlipidemic

1. Journal of medicine and life

Medicinal Uses

Pistacia atlantica has 25 reported medicinal uses identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Diabetes mellitus, pain, Antioxidant, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigates.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations