A semi - evergreen to deciduous, slow to moderate growing tree (to 20 m), native to the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean region to the Caucusus and Pakistan. The tree is very hardy and can tolerate prolonged heat, drought, wind, cold and alkaline soil conditions.
It bears small turpentine fruits called gadum which are eaten raw in the Middle East. It is valued commercially for a resin which oozes from its branches to form tiny droplets and for its wood.
It is commonly used as a rootstock for Pistacia vera because it is resistant to nematodes and root -knot and prefers heavy soils.