Pistacia atlantica: Characteristics, Distribution, Traditional Uses and Conservation

Introduction to Pistacia atlantica

Atlantic Pistacia, Commonly known as seedbed, Canary Islands seedbed o sheep's tongue, is a tree of the Anacardiaceae family with a significant presence in the Mediterranean regions, North Africa, and the Canary Islands. Noted for its drought resistance and longevity, this species is essential in thermophilic and sclerophyllous forests, where it contributes to ecological balance, erosion prevention, and biodiversity conservation.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Kingdom: Plant
• Division: Magnoliophyta
• Class: Magnoliopside
• Order: sapindales
• Family: Anacardiaceae
• Gender: Pistacia
• Species: Atlantic Pistacia

Pistacia is the classical Latin name for different types of pistachios, with roots in ancient Greek and possibly Persian or Arabic origins. The epithet atlantic refers to its distribution in the regions of the Atlantic environment and the Maghreb Atlas.

Detailed Botanical Description

Atlantic Pistacia It is a tree that can grow to over 12 meters tall and live a long life, often surpassing several centuries. Its trunk can reach a meter in diameter and has scaly, grayish bark, giving it a weathered appearance, especially in older specimens. It grows slowly and has a dense, irregular, and somewhat tangled canopy.

• Sheets: Deciduous and composed of 5 to 9 leaflets, glossy dark green on the upper surface and paler on the underside. The leaflets are oval, sometimes slightly asymmetrical at the base, and may have guts reddish spots caused by parasitic insects, which also provide pigmentation and are part of the plant's defense.
• Flowers: Unisexual, inconspicuous, and lacking showy petals, they appear in clusters or catkins. It is a dioecious species, meaning there are both male and female specimens.
• Fruits: Small drupes, initially reddish and later brownish or blackish when ripe, grouped in clusters up to 15 cm in diameter. Their appearance is slightly "cucumber-like," unlike mastic fruits, which are rounded.
• Root System: Very deep and robust, adapted to survive in arid terrain and slopes, allowing the species to stabilize soils and capture water from deeper layers.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat

Atlantic Pistacia It has a very wide natural distribution, occupying:

• El north of Africa (including Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia), where it develops at altitudes from sea level to 600 meters.
• Large areas of Near East and the environment of Mediterranean Sea, including Iran and the Anatolian Peninsula.
• The Canary archipelago It is one of the few native deciduous species, forming monospecific groves in ravines and slopes of the central and eastern islands, where it is associated with thermophilous forests alongside other species such as wild olive trees, junipers, and mastic trees. In the Canary Islands, it is present on all islands except El Hierro.
• In the Iberian Peninsula, it is less common than pistacia terebinthus but it is highly valued in ecological restoration and conservation projects.

Prefer light, well-drained soils with a neutral or slightly acidic pH, although its hardiness allows it to survive in poor, arid soils with little vegetation cover. It is characteristic of degraded environments, hillsides, and ravine bottoms.

Ecology, Environmental Role and Biodiversity

Atlantic Pistacia plays an irreplaceable role in the erosion control and soil reclamation In arid or semi-arid ecosystems, thanks to its deep roots and its ability to stabilize slopes and embankments. By forming groves, it provides:

• Shelter and food for wildlife, including birds, insects and small mammals.
• Shade and microhabitats which allow the survival of smaller plant species and facilitate the natural regeneration of the thermophilic forest.
• The resin and galls on its leaves are a food source for some aphids and other insects, forming an important part of food chains.
• Its groves function as reservoirs of endemic, rare and endangered species.

This species is included in environmental and forest restoration projects in desert and sclerophyllous areas on several continents. It is also used in reforestation of degraded lands and steep hillsides.

Phenology: Biological Cycle

In colder areas, the leaves sprout in spring and fall in autumn, marking their character. deciduous. Flowering occurs in loose clusters in late spring, and fruit ripening occurs in summer and early autumn. It begins to bear fruit regularly from the 8 to 10 years, with abundant fruits every 2 or 3 years on average.

Traditional and Modern Uses

Atlantic Pistacia It has been valued for millennia for its many applications:

• Culinary: The seeds are edible, rich in fat (up to 60%), and can be eaten raw as nuts. They are a common ingredient in traditional sweets from the Eastern Mediterranean and Türkiye (such as pistachio nuts). tsukpi). Sometimes the unripe fruit is eaten with sour milk.
• Medicinal: Resin, also known as chewing gum or gum betoum in Arabic and baneh In Iran, it has been used to strengthen gums, soothe digestive problems, and as an astringent, antidiarrheal, anticatarrhal, and analgesic.
• Industrial: The resin is used in the manufacture of varnishes, lacquers, and perfumes due to its characteristic aroma and essential oils. It is also used in the production of incense.
• Cosmetics and perfumery: The essential oils extracted from the resin are prized in the perfume industry.
• Wood utilization: Solid, aromatic, and durable, the wood of the mastic tree has been used in carpentry, carving, and as fuel in industrial activities, especially in the traditional Canary Islands sugar industry.

In addition, the dried sap is used in religious ceremonies and domestic settings as incense, appreciated for its fragrance.

Cultural and Historical Importance

In the Canary Islands, the mastic tree is deeply rooted in popular culture and even appears on the coats of arms of municipalities such as Arona and Guía de Isora in Tenerife. Historical examples have inspired local symbols and traditional stories, such as the famous "Chajajo mastic tree."

The resin was a product of great economic and medicinal value, traded and exported for centuries. Its common name comes from Arabic and refers directly to the chewing gum obtained from its resin, which was highly prized for its aroma and hygienic properties.

In the thermophilic forests of the Canary Islands and North Africa, Atlantic Pistacia It is part of a vital natural and cultural legacy that deserves to be protected and valued.

Modern Agronomic and Forestry Uses

The robustness and adaptability of the seedbed make it rootstock preferred in pistachio cultivation (Pistacia Vera), especially in nut-producing countries. However, although it is more vigorous than pistacia terebinthus, it tolerates frost worse than the cornicabra.

Thanks to its high resistance to drought and its tolerance to poor soils, it is used in:

• Reforestation and soil restoration projects in arid and semi-arid Mediterranean areas.
• Ornamental use: It is common in urban parks and public roads in coastal areas and Black Sea cities.
• Active fight against desertification y regeneration of degraded habitats.

Growing and Caring for Pistacia Atlantica

Growing seedbeds requires attention to several key aspects:

• Location: It prefers sunny exposures and is resistant to intense sunlight.
• Substratum: Ideally, it should be loose and well-drained, although it tolerates rocky and poor soils. The pH should be neutral or slightly acidic.
• Plantation: It's recommended to dig a hole at least twice the size of the root ball to facilitate rooting. The soil should be crumbled and mixed with organic soil. After planting, it's essential to water thoroughly for the first few days.
• Irrigation: Accustomed to drought, regular watering is only necessary in the initial phase after planting. Once established, it survives with minimal watering in most Mediterranean and arid climates.
• Pruning: It can be pruned for training and maintenance. Removing dry or damaged branches improves its vigor and aesthetics.

Propagation and Multiplication

Atlantic Pistacia can be multiplied mainly by:

• Seed: The most traditional and simplest method. Seeds should be collected in the fall, cleaned, and sown in the spring after undergoing cold stratification to promote germination.
• Graft: Used in nurseries to obtain rootstocks on which to graft Pistacia Vera.
• Cutting: Less common, although possible under controlled conditions and with hormonal rooting treatments.

Pests, Diseases and Common Problems

• Aphids: They are responsible for the formation of galls, visible as reddish bumps on leaves and shoots, although their impact is generally limited.
• Fungi: They can affect excessively humid soils, causing root rot.
• Livestock damage: Especially in rural areas, browsing by goats can seriously damage young specimens and compromise the regeneration of the species.
• Competition with invasive species: Some invaders can displace seedbeds in degraded habitats.

Conservation and Protection Status

Atlantic Pistacia is legally protected in the Canary Islands and in various regions of North Africa and Asia, due to its rarity and the threats posed by human and livestock pressure, as well as the transformation of its original habitats. It appears in the Canary Islands' regional legislation, included in the annexes for the management of protected flora, and appears in various catalogues of endangered species and those of community interest in Europe.

• Today, Agricultural regression is facilitating the regeneration of some populations of seedbeds in ravines and marginal areas, but the lack of natural mortality and pressure from livestock remains a threat.
• In Fuerteventura, for example, there are very few specimens left due to the strong presence of goats.

Importance and Genetic Diversity

The genetic role of Pistacia atlantica It is essential, not only as a wild relative of Pistacia Vera (pistachio), but as a genetic reserve for the development of new rootstocks and the improvement of resistance to diseases and adverse environmental conditions. Intraspecific diversity is evident in the different varieties and forms present throughout its distribution.

Furthermore, their presence is vital for the continuity and ecological balance of large areas of the Mediterranean and the Maghreb.

Quotes and Local Names

In different regions, the Atlantic Pistacia It is called in different ways:

• Betoum in Arabic
• Baneh in Iran
• Seedling o Canary Islands seedbed in the Canary Islands
• Sheep tongue in other rural areas

There is also a notable botanical synonymy:

• Pistacia atlantica var. mutica
• Pistacia mutica
• Terebinthus atlanticus

Historical and Scientific References

The historical importance of the mastic tree is documented in numerous scientific and botanical works dating back to the earliest European explorers and naturalists. René Louiche Desfontaines was the one who formally described the species, and since then, it has been the subject of numerous studies on its biology, ecology, distribution, and traditional uses.

Numerous publications, censuses, and floristic notes, especially in the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean, mention the species' importance for ecological restoration and the protection of natural heritage.

Presence in Popular Culture and Landscape

The mastic tree frequently appears in literature, heraldry, and local folklore. Some ancient specimens have acquired their own names and are objects of protection and admiration in various island and Mediterranean locations. Its shade, size, and longevity make it one of the great plant "giants" of the thermophilous forest.

Restoration and Recovery Experiences

Recovery of Atlantic Pistacia It is associated with the restoration of insular and continental thermophilic forests. Currently, there are successful reintroduction experiences in ravines and nature reserves, such as the Tasartico, Tocodomán, and Hoya de José groves in Gran Canaria, where a progressive recovery has been observed, favored by conservation policies and local reforestation programs.

It has also been observed that the gradual withdrawal of livestock and the abandonment of agricultural land are allowing the natural regeneration of the species on various islands and Mediterranean areas.

Research and Future of the Species

Scientific research continues to focus on the genetic, agronomic and ecological aspects of Atlantic Pistacia:

• Analysis of its potential as a rootstock and genetic reserve against diseases affecting cultivated pistachios.
• Studies on the impact of climate change on their distribution and the resilience of their populations in degraded or threatened ecosystems.
• Development of propagation and improvement techniques for use in reforestation and environmental restoration.

Curiosities and Additional Data

• Extraordinary longevity: Some specimens easily exceed a millennium in age.
• Relationship with commercial pistachio: The seedbed is essential for the development of modern plantations of Pistacia Vera, providing resistance and adaptability.
• Rich in tannins: Up to 20% in leaf galls, traditionally used in the leather tanning industry.
• Natural incense: Its resin, when burned, has perfumed religious and domestic environments since ancient times.

How to Contribute to its Conservation

• Protect native specimens: Do not collect branches, fruits, or resin without permission, and respect the fences and regulations of nature reserves.
• Collaborate in restoration programsIf you have the opportunity, support reforestation projects with native species such as mastic trees.
• Use certified plantsIf you want to grow seedlings in gardens or on farms, purchase specimens from responsible, certified nurseries.
• Get informed and spread the word: Participate in environmental education and awareness raising about the importance of this species and thermophilic forests.

Atlantic Pistacia It's much more than a resilient and beautiful tree: it's a pillar of biodiversity, culture, and a sustainable economy for vast regions of the Old World. By understanding its secrets, uses, and threats, we can value and protect one of the great green treasures of the Mediterranean and Canary Islands.