The pistachio (Pistacia vera) is a small tree native to Central Asia whose fruit contains the edible seed of the same name, one of the most highly prized nuts in the world.
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Division | Magnoliophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Sapindales |
| Family | Anacardiaceae |
| Genus | Pistacia |
| Species | Pistacia vera |
It is a tree that reaches approximately 10 metres in height, with pinnate leaves made up of 3 to 5 leaflets. It is a dioecious species, with petal-less flowers grouped in panicles.
Its fruit is a drupe containing an elongated seed wrapped in a thin green skin. As it ripens, the outer covering turns reddish-yellow and splits open with a characteristic sound.
It is native to the mountainous regions of Syria, Turkey, Iran and western Afghanistan. It is a species adapted to desert conditions, with a notable tolerance of soil salinity.
The word “pistachio” comes from Italian, which in turn took it from Greek via Persian. Iran has historically been the world’s leading pistachio-producing country.
