The peanut, scientifically known as Arachis hypogaea, is a member of the legume family and is native to South America. It is mainly grown in developing countries but also in the US and China. The plant produces pods with 3-5 seeds inside, which are high in protein and oil. Peanut crops can also benefit animals.
Peanut is commonly called groundnut, but scientifically this plant has the name Arachis hypogaea. Native to South America, the peanut is familiar in many areas of the world as a nut and for its oil extract. Technically, the peanut isn’t a true nut, but rather is a member of the legume family; this includes foods like peas and beans.
Spanish explorers were the first to spread the peanut plant throughout the Americas from its localized origin in the region of present-day Bolivia and Argentina. According to the Advisory Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), peanut is mainly grown in developing countries such as India, Nigeria and Indonesia, but the United States and China also produce commercial crops of peanuts. Most nuts are processed into oil, the CGIAR says, as each peanut is about 50 percent oil.
Each plant produces pods, which protect the peanuts inside. These pods start as ovaries of fertilized flowers, which then push into the ground and develop into pods, with 3-5 seeds inside. Each seed is generally referred to as a peanut by the people who eat them, either by opening the pod to eat the seed as a snack or by eating the peanuts after they’ve been processed to remove the shell. Examples of peanut seeds that are widely available in stores include salted or roasted.
Characteristics of the plant itself include a root system that is buried deep into the ground relative to its potential maximum height of about 60cm. Since the plant is an annual, it grows within a year, dies and is replaced by its seeds. The stem is covered in hairs and has branches that extend or rise into the air. Peanut flowers are yellow and the plant grows best in clay soil. Because of its preference for warm climates, the peanut only grows in countries that lie within a band of about 40° on either side of the equator.
In addition to being 50 percent oil, the nut is high in protein, approximately 25 percent, with 20 percent carbohydrates. This makes peanuts a useful source of nutrition, as they are high in calories. Additionally, peanuts contain vitamin E, vitamin K, and B vitamins, along with niacin. Animals may also benefit from peanut crops, as after extracting the oil, a dry cake is left behind which can form a nutritious addition to feed.
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