pistachio

Any of nine species of aromatic trees and shrubs, some ornamental, that make up the genus Pistacia of the sumac (or cashew) family, native to Eurasia, with one species in southwestern North America and another in the Canary Islands. Commercial pistachio nuts are seeds from the fruit of P. vera. They have a pleasing, mild, resinous flavour and are used extensively as food and for yellowish green colouring in confections. The tree bears leaves with thick, wide, leathery, featherlike leaflets and small fruit in clusters.

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