International Journal of Botany1811-97001811-9719Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/ijb.2009.255.257Pistacia (Anacardiaceae)]]>Al-SaghirM.G. 3200953 Pistacia L. belongs to the family Anacardiaceae (cashew family), order Sapindales. Pistacia vera L. (cultivated pistachio) is by far the most economically important species in the genus. It has edible seeds and considerable commercial importance. The evolutionary history and the phylogenetic relationships between species within the genus are not well understood. A better understanding of these relationships is needed to make the species more useful for plant improvement or genetic studies. The objective of this perpestective is to provide additional insight into understanding the evolutionary history of Pistacia. In conclusion, Pistacia is a monophyletic genus and it contains two sections (Lentiscella and Pistacia) and it is originated in the Paleocene epoch. This is based on Anacardiaceae being pantropical in distribution with North and South America representing major diversification centers of the family including the geographical distribution of Pistacia. This perspective provides additional insight into understanding the evolutionary history of the genus Pistacia to make the species more useful for plant improvement or genetic studies.]]>Al-Saghir, M.G. and D.M. Porter,2006Pistacia species (Anacardiaceae).]]>510021006Crane, J.C.,1978De Menocal, P.B.,19952705359Edwards, W.N. and F.M. Wonnacott,1935Hormaza, J.I., C. Dollo and V.S. Polito,1994Pistacia vera (pistachio, Anacardiaceae) germplasm by RAPD analysis.]]>48349358Hormaza, J.I., K. Pinney and V.S. Polito,1998Pistacia vera, Anacardiaceae) germplasm based on randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers.]]>527887Hsu, J.,198370490508Jordano, P.,1989Pistacia lentiscus (Anacardiaceae): Cumulative effects on seed removal by birds.]]>55357386Li, W.H. and M. Tanimura,19873269396Magallon, S. and M.J. Sanderson,20015517621780Maggs, D.H.,197329715Muller, J.,198471419443Parfitt, D.E. and M.L. Badenes,1997Pistacia as determined from analysis of the chloroplast genome.]]>9479877992Potts, R. and A.K. Behrensmeyer,19921992pp: 419-541pp: 419-541Renner, S.,200435914851494Stevens, P.F.,20082008Tiffney, B.H.,198566243273Tiffney, B.H. and S.R. Manchester,2001162S3S17Tous, J. and L. Ferguson,19961996pp: 416-430pp: 416-430Weeks, A., D.C. Daly and B.B. Simpson,20053585101Wikstrom, N., V. Savolainen and M.W. Chase,200126822112220Wolfe, J.A.,197866694703Zachos, J., M. Pagani, L. Sloan, E. Thomas and K. Billups,2001292686693Zohary, M.,1952Pistacia.]]>5187228FAO.,20022002