The mastic is a Mediterranean shrub which is widespread in the wild all along the Italian coasts except those of the northern Adriatic. It is a sun-loving, thermo- and xerophilous species, typical of the evergreen Mediterranean maquis. The species is sporadic on the edge of the Sardinian temporary ponds, in contact with Mediterranean maquis vegetation. The mastic shrub is often used in Mediterranean rocky gardens, as it resists well to drastic pruning, and is suitable for the creation of geometrical hedges. The wood is prized for inlay work and for small turnery, due to its hardness and the beautiful red-veined colour. In the past it was used to produce charcoal, and even today is used locally to feed the wood-fired ovens of pizzerias. The leaves, rich in tannins, were used for tanning leather. By making incisions in the trunk it is possible to obtain a resin that thickens in the air (mastic); it has a characteristic odour, and is called 'Chios mastic'; the word 'mastic' derives from ancient Greek, indicating the resin produced from the mastic tree, which was used as a chewing-gum for its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, and for the pleasant taste. The genus name comes from the Greek 'pistákion', assonant with the Persian 'pistáh' (rich in flour), which refers to the fruit of the true pistachio (Pistacia vera); the species name is the ancient Latin name of the plant. Flowering period: March to May.

Italian name(s): Agromato (Calabria, Reggio), Agrosaja (Calabria, Palmi), Ben (Liguria, Porto Maurizio), Bosch da calliè (Piemonte, Torino), Carubba sarvaega (Liguria, Genova), Chessa (Sardegna, Olzai), Dentischio (Toscana), Dentisco (Toscana), Fisteccu sarvaegu (Liguria, Genova), Galletti (Liguria, Chiavari), Hessa (Sardegna, Olzai), Lentis (Lombardia, Bergamo), Lentischio (Toscana), Lentisco (Toscana), Lentisco (Italia), Lentiscu (Liguria, Genova), Lentiso (Abruzzi, Aquila), Lestincanu (Sardegna, Nuoro), Lestinci (Puglia, Lecce), Lestincu (Sardegna, Nuoro), Lestingo (Basilicata, Potenza), Lintiscu (Calabria), Listinchine (Sardegna, Bosa), Listincu (Sicilia), Listincu (Sardegna, Nuoro), Lostincu (Sardegna, Nuoro), Lustinchina (Sardegna, Nuoro), Macchia (Basilicata, Potenza), Moddizzi (Sardegna, Nuoro), Moddizzia (Sardegna, Nuoro), Mortella (Marche), Mortella salvatica (Toscana, Scandicci), Mortella salvatica (Emilia-Romagna), Murta (Liguria, Genova), Murtante (Liguria, Chiavari), Murtascu (Liguria, Chiavari), Murtin (Liguria, Noli), Pistacchio lentisco (Italia), Prinesse (Liguria, Porto Maurizio), Schino (Abruzzi, Teramo), Scinari (Calabria, Reggio), Scinidi (Calabria, Bova), Scino (Abruzzi, Teramo), Scinu (Calabria), Scorapo (Campania, Terra di Lavoro), Scortegabeccu (Liguria, Porto Maurizio), Sondro (Italia), Sondro (Toscana, Volterra), Sonnolo (Toscana), Sontro (Toscana, Pisa), Stigi (Abruzzi, Teramo), Stigno (Puglia, Barletta), Stigno (Calabria), Stincia (Campania, Avellino), Stincio (Abruzzi, Campobasso), Stinco (Italia), Stincu (Calabria), Stincu (Sardegna, Nuoro), Stincu (Sicilia), Stinge (Basilicata, Potenza), Stingio (Puglia, Barletta), Stingio (Abruzzi, Teramo), Stingo (Calabria, Reggio).