Pistachio
Family Anacardiaceae
Pistacia vera, pistachio, is a small deciduous tree, up to 10 m high, with alternate pinnate leaves (P. vera 2). The male flowers are born in pendulous catkins, the females in 2-10 flowered spikes. The fruit is a drupe, which splits at maturity showing the brown kernel with a purple seed coat or testa (P. vera 1).
Distribution
The tree is native to the Near East and Central Asia and has long been cultivated in the Mediterranean region. It is also cultivated in Iran, India, and more recently in the southern US.
Use
The green kernels are eaten as dessert nuts like peanuts, and used in confectionery and for flavouring ice cream because of the green colour and mild flavour.