A tree up to 7 m tall. Twigs puberulous with a rusty pubescence. Leaves imparipinnate. Leaflets (3-) 5-9 in number, 26-70 x 8-22 mm, lanceolate; petiole winged, puberulous. Panicles extra-axillary, 7-13 cm long, puberulous. Bracts 1-2 mm long, lanceolate, scarious, deciduous, brown. Ovary ovoid, ± 1 mm long. Styles 3, reflexed. Drupe 5-6.5 mm long, suborbicular-oblique in outline, compressed, apiculate; epicarp nervose, yellowish-brown.

Fl. Per.: May.

Type of subspecies: ‘In Collibus Belutschiae et Afghaniae’, Stocks (K).

Distribution: S. Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

I have followed K.H. Rechinger (l.c., p. 4) in the recognition of the infraspecific taxa of Pistacia atlantica. The subspecies cabulica differs from ssp. mutica in the narrower and larger number of leaflets, the drupe which is longer than broad. Specimens cited above for Chitral are not typical and in the size of the leaf approach ssp. kurdica.