Terebinth
Pistacia terebinthus
Family · Anacardiaceae · Harmless
The deciduous cousin of the mastic tree, which drops its leaves and turns red in autumn, a rare thing in Mediterranean scrub. It is known by the horn-shaped galls insects induce on its leaves, which gave it its Spanish name.
Scrubland · Oak woods · Uplands · Montado
Also known asturpentine tree
How to tell it
A compound leaf with a terminal leaflet, unlike the mastic tree, which has none: that is the decisive difference. A strong turpentine smell when rubbed. Curved hollow galls, like red horns, very common on the leaves.
What it is confused with
Mastic tree
Pistacia lentiscus
Count the leaflets: mastic tree has an even number with none at the tip; terebinth has a terminal leaflet, so an odd number. And mastic tree keeps its leaves all year, terebinth drops them.
What it is for
The resin was the original turpentine, used in varnishes and ancient medicine. The tannin-rich galls served to tan hides and dye black.
Where it occurs
Each square is an area with recorded observations of this plant. The lighter background is the set of areas where any of the entries has been observed, and serves as a reference. Note what this is not: it is not where the plant lives, it is where people record it, so trails and towns always look fuller than the mountains. Data from GBIF.
Sources
Community
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