Common Name: Betoum

General Information

Pistacia atlantica is a deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub or a tree forming a dense, wide, rounded crown; it can grow from 3 - 15 metres tall[, ].
The plant is commonly harvested from the wild, having a wide range of uses as a food, medicine, and source of various materials[]. It is also grown as an ornamental and shade tree[].
Pistacia atlantica has a large range, but it is scattered and often occasional through much of that. The population size and habitats are in continuous degradation and decline due to numerous threats especially: ruthless collection for domestic uses as forage or firewood and for trade. Collection practices and overgrazing prevent natural regeneration and the development of young shoots; deforestation, desertification, erosion of habitats and insects attacks add to the pressures on this species. The plant is also heavily collected by locals and collectors for use as a remedy and to trade both nationally and for international export. The bad collection practices of the wild species are destroying the entire species and preventing it from growing again. The plant is threatened more generally by the indirect impact of human activities such as leisure activities, tourism, infrastructure development. The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2018)[].

Known Hazards

The raw resin without any prior treatment is reported as toxic[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

S.E. Europe - Ukraine and Greece, through Turkey and Crimea to Pakistan and northwest India; Africa - Macaronesia, N. Africa to the Levant and Arabia

Habitat

Scattered, on dry hillsides, cemeteries, field edges and roadsides; at elevations up to 1,500 metres in Turkey[]. Stony hillsides, steep dry slopes, limestone and sandstone hills; at elevations from 30 - 2,500 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Near Threatened
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	8.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Pistacia atlantica has a remarkable ecological amplitude with great plasticity, able to thrive in arid Saharan areas, semi-arid forests, as well as in open areas and moister regions within agricultural landscapes[]. The species is not very cold-hardy, however, tolerating short periods with temperatures falling to around -5°c and only succeeding outdoors in the milder regions of the temperate zone. It requires hot summers if it is to thrive, in cooler regions the wood does not ripen fully and is more susceptible to damage by cold in the winter..
Requires a sunny position in a deep well-drained light soil[]. Succeeds in dry soils. This species can grow in most soil types except sandy soil and does not require irrigation to survive. It prefers open and sunny habitats but can be found in mid-shaded habitats[].
This species is sometimes grown near Pistacia vera, the pistachio, as a pollinator[].
Any pruning that needs to be done is best carried out in the spring[].
Plants are prone to fungal root rots[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms must be grown if seed is required.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[, , ]. A turpentine flavour[]. The fruit is about 8mm long and 6mm wide and contains a single seed[].

An excellent edible oil is obtained from the seed[].

A resin obtained from the bark is used as a chewing gum[].

The young leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable[].

Medicinal

A resin obtained from the bark is antiseptic, appetizer, astringent, carminative, demulcent, digestive, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, hepatic, laxative, stomachic and tonic. It is used as chewing gum to purify the breath, strengthen the gums etc. It is also commonly used to treat stomach infections, digestive disorders, peptic ulcers, kidney and liver diseases, sterility, and respiratory infections[, , ]. It is chewed to freshen the breath[].
Applied externally, it is used as an antiseptic on wounds, to treat skin conditions such as scabies, as a resolutive for furuncles and as a depilatory[, ].

The fruit is cardiac stimulant, diuretic, expectorant, sudorific and tonic. It is used in the treatment of asthma, coughs and chest diseases; mouth diseases and dental problems; stomach disorders, diarrhoea etc (crushed nut of the fruit); stress[, ].

The leaves are diuretic. They are used to treat diabetes, eye infections[].

Other Uses

Seedlings are used as a nematode and fungi resistant rootstock for Pistacia vera, the pistachio nut[, , ].

A resin obtained from the bark of the tree is used in preparations of certain cosmetic products and perfumery, as an ingredient in conservative odontology, in the production of glue, restoration of works of art in glass, porcelain, wood and metal[, ].

Tannin is obtained from galls that develop on the tree as a result of a fungus. It is used to make an ink and a dye[].
The leaves contain 22.2% tannin[].

The seeds are used for tanning and for soap-making[].

The dark-coloured wood is finely-grained, very hard[]. It is suitable for turnery[, ]. ( As subspecies mutica)
The wood is commonly harvested from the wild for use as a fuel[].

Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 16 hours in alkalized water[], or for 3 - 4 days in warm water[], and sow late winter in a cold frame or greenhouse[, ]. Two months cold stratification may speed up germination, so it might be better to sow the seed in early winter[]. The germination is variable and can be slow. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow on the plants for at least their first winter in a greenhouse. Plant out into their permanent positions in early summer and consider giving some protection from winter cold for their first year or two outdoors[].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood from juvenile trees, July in a frame[].
Layering.