Pistacia chinensis

Pistacia chinensis (English: Chinese pistache;[2] Chinese: 黄連木; pinyin: huángliánmù) is a small to medium-sized tree in the genus Pistacia in the cashew family, Anacardiaceae, native to central and western China.[3] This species is planted as a street tree in temperate areas worldwide due to its attractive fruit and autumn foliage.

Chinese pistache
Pistacia chinensis with autumn colour
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Sapindales
Family:	Anacardiaceae
Genus:	Pistacia
Species:	P. chinensis
Binomial name
Pistacia chinensis Bunge
Synonyms[1]
Pistacia formosana Matsum. Pistacia integerrima J. L. Stewart ex Brandis Pistacia philippinensis Merr. & Rolfe Rhus argyi H. Lév. Rhus gummifera H. Lév.

Description

Tree in the summer

It is hardy, can withstand harsh conditions and poor quality soils, and grows up to 20 m. The leaves are deciduous, alternate, pinnate, 20–25 cm long, with 10 or 12 leaflets, the terminal leaflet usually absent. The flowers are produced in panicles 15–20 cm long at the ends of the branches; it is dioecious, with separate male and female plants.

The fruit is a small red drupe, turning blue when ripe, containing a single seed.

Taxonomy

Synonyms include: Pistacia formosana Matsumura; P. philippinensis Merrill & Rolfe; Rhus argyi H. Léveillé; R. gummifera H. Léveillé.[3]

Some botanists merge Pistacia integerrima into this species as the subspecies P. chinensis ssp. integerrima, with the plants considered here then becoming the subspecies P. chinensis ssp. chinensis.

Distribution and habitat

Its native range is on hill and mountain forests on rocky soils at 100–3600 m above sea level. It is found in China (except in the north) and Taiwan.[3]

Ecology

Chinese pistache grows best in full sun, being intolerant of shade; it is the most frost-tolerant species of Pistacia, tolerating temperatures down to about -25 °C, yet it is most highly regarded in warm climates. It is planted for its impressive fall colors, which develop at least as far south as Orlando, Florida. In the low-elevation deserts of Arizona, it is the only tree whose leaves turn scarlet in fall.

Uses

Horticulturally, it is a popular choice for street trees in urban settings because it is very drought tolerant and can survive harsh environments. It is also used as an understock for Pistacia vera.[4] In China, the oil from the seeds is used for biodiesel production. The wood is used for production of furniture and yields a yellow dye.[3]

It is also used in classical Chinese garden design.

References

1. "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 21 November 2014.
2. "Pistacia chinensis". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
3. Tianlu Min & Anders Barfod. "Pistacia chinensis Bunge, Enum. Pl. China Bor. 15. 1833". Flora of China. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
4. Ketzel Levine (2003). "Talking Plants: Pistacia_chinensis". NPR. Retrieved 2009-11-11.

Further reading

• Ernest Henry Wilson (1913). A Naturalist in Western China. vol II. London: Methuen & GO. Ltd. OCLC 459058573. Retrieved 2009-11-11.