A Potential Bioenergy Tree: Pistacia chinensis Bunge

Pistacia chinensis Bunge is one of ideal species for producing biodiesel. The tree has several outstanding characters: drought resistance, tolerance to cold climate, poor, acid or alkaline soils and widely distributed in China. These characters make P. chinensis as a prospective energy plant of second generation to substitute fossil fuels, solve energy crisis and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, its basic agronomic properties, biological characters and the taxonomic classification of the species are less known. In this paper, we described its distribution, basic morphology and biological characteristics, multiple uses and problems for large scale cultivation.