Peanut

Peanuts are part of the pea family.

They are very special plants. Most plants grow fruit above the ground. But peanuts grow in pods under the dirt.

A little stem pushes the pod into the soil. This helps the seeds grow in the dark. Peanuts help the soil stay healthy too. People use them to make oil and peanut butter.

Some people must be careful because they are allergic. It is fun to find peanuts in your food!

Peanuts are special plants from the pea family.

Most plants grow fruit high on their stems. Peanuts do things differently. They use a way called geocarpy to grow underground.

First, the plant grows yellow flowers. After the flower is fertilized, a tiny stalk grows. This stalk is called a gynophore. It acts like a peg. The peg grows down into the soil. This lets the fruit grow in the dark dirt. The pods are called legumes. They usually hold one to four seeds.

Peanuts are very helpful to farmers. They have tiny parts in their roots called nodules. These nodules hold bacteria. The bacteria fix nitrogen in the soil. This makes the soil healthy for other crops.

People eat peanuts in many ways. We use them for peanut butter and oil. Some people use peanut oil for paint or polish. In many places, people add them to stews or salads.

You can also find them in candy and cookies. Always remember that some people are allergic to peanuts. This can make them very sick.

Peanuts are much more than just a snack in a bag. They are members of the Fabaceae family, which is also known as the pea family.

While many people call them nuts, they are actually legumes. This means they produce seeds inside a pod. Peanuts are very important for farmers around the world. They help keep the soil healthy for other plants to grow. This makes them a great choice for crop rotation.

Most plants grow their fruit high up on stems or branches. Peanuts use a special way of growing called geocarpy.

First, the plant grows yellowish-orange flowers with red veins. After the flower is fertilized, a small stalk called a gynophore grows. This stalk acts like a tiny peg that pushes down into the dirt. The peg grows into the soil so the fruit can develop underground. The pods usually hold between one and four seeds.

Peanuts have a long and interesting history. They are native to South America, near places like Brazil and Peru. Scientists think they grew from a mix of two wild species.

Archaeologists found old peanut pods in Peru that are 7,600 years old. Long ago, the Moche culture even drew peanuts in their art. Later, Spanish explorers found them in Mesoamerica. Eventually, traders spread them to Europe and then all over the world.

Today, peanuts are grown in many different ways. In 2023, the world produced 54 million tonnes of peanuts. China grew the most, which was 36 percent of the total. India was second, growing 19 percent.

In the United States, peanuts are grown in three main areas. These include the Southeast, the Southwest, and the eastern parts of the country. Different types are grown there, like the oily Spanish type or the larger Virginia type.

We use peanuts in many parts of our daily lives. You might eat them as peanut butter or in crunchy candies.

In Southeast Asia and Latin America, people use them in sauces. In India, they are often added to stews or salads.

Even peanut oil is used to make things like paint and furniture polish. However, we must always be careful because some people have serious allergies. For those people, eating a peanut can be very dangerous.

The peanut, scientifically known as *Arachis hypogaea*, is a versatile legume crop.

While many people call them nuts, they are technically legumes. This means they produce seeds inside a pod. Peanuts are grown globally for their edible seeds and their oil. They are vital to agriculture because they help improve soil fertility. This makes them an excellent choice for crop rotation systems.

Peanuts grow using a unique process called geocarpy.

This means the fruit develops underground rather than on stems or branches. First, the plant produces yellowish-orange flowers with reddish veining. Once fertilization occurs, a small stalk called a gynophore begins to grow. This structure acts as a "peg" that elongates toward the ground. The peg pushes into the soil, allowing the pod to develop safely beneath the surface. These pods, or legumes, typically contain between one and four seeds.

There are two main subspecies of the cultivated peanut. The first is *A. h. fastigiata*, which grows in an upright habit. These plants have shorter crop cycles. The second is *A. h. hypogaea*, which spreads more across the ground. These plants have longer crop cycles. Within the United States, farmers grow several market classes. These include the Spanish, Runner, Virginia, and Valencia varieties. Spanish peanuts are known for having a higher oil content.

The history of the peanut begins in South America.

The *Arachis* genus is native to areas east of the Andes. This includes countries like Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and Brazil. Scientists believe cultivated peanuts arose from a hybrid of two wild species. These were likely *A. duranensis* and *A. ipaensis*. Archaeologists found peanut pods in Peru that are 7,600 years old. This suggests that cultivation began very long ago in South America. Later, Spanish conquistadors encountered peanuts in Mesoamerica. They brought the plant to Europe in the 19th century.

Modern peanut production is a massive global industry. In 2023, the world produced 54 million tonnes of peanuts. China led the world, producing 36% of the total amount. India followed in second place, producing 19%. In the United States, peanuts are grown in three major regions. These are the Southeast, the Southwest, and the eastern United States. In Texas, rotating peanuts with corn can increase yields by 50%. This happens because peanuts are excellent at fixing nitrogen in the soil. They harbor symbiotic bacteria in their root nodules to do this.

Peanuts are used in many different ways around the world. In North America, they are common in candies, cakes, and cookies. Peanut butter is a very popular food item.

In Latin America and Southeast Asia, people use peanut sauces. In the Indian subcontinent, they are added to stews and salads.

Beyond food, peanut oil has industrial uses. It can be used to make paint, varnish, and furniture polish.

Even the plant tops are used for silage, and the oilcake meal serves as animal feed.

Despite their many uses, peanuts require careful management. One major concern is a mold called *Aspergillus flavus*. If pods are not stored properly, this mold can produce aflatoxins. These toxins are carcinogenic and can be dangerous to humans. The USDA tests every truckload of raw peanuts for these toxins. If a load has more than 15 parts per billion, it is destroyed. Additionally, some people have severe allergies to peanuts. For these individuals, even small amounts of exposure can cause a fatal reaction.