Peanut

Arachis hypogaea

Peanuts are tasty nuts that grow underground. They are a good source of protein and can be eaten roasted or made into peanut butter.

Appearance

The Peanut is a low-growing plant with vibrant green, oval leaves arranged in pairs. It produces small, delicate yellow flowers above ground. Uniquely, its edible pods mature and grow hidden beneath the soil, making it visually distinct from many other plants.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFabalesFamilyFabaceaeGenusArachis

Peanut

Interesting facts

Making one 12-ounce jar of peanut butter uses around 540 peanuts! That's a lot!

Peanut butter was first created for people who couldn't chew solid food easily!

Peanuts are a favorite snack for astronauts, often enjoyed in space as a tasty treat.

The famous scientist George Washington Carver discovered over 300 uses for peanuts!

Special abilities

Peanut has a unique trick: its flowers bury themselves after pollination, making its delicious pods grow safely underground to mature.

Peanut can pull nitrogen from the air and put it into the soil, helping itself and other plants grow strong and healthy.

Peanut mostly pollinates itself, ensuring it can produce seeds even without help from insects, making it a reliable plant.

Measurements & details

Height: 30-50 cm
Spread: 30-60 cm
Flower Size: 0.5-1 cm
Bloom Season: Summer
Edible: Yes
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Annual
Pollination Method: Self

Ecological connections

symbiotic with

Rhizobium bacteria

Bradyrhizobium japonicum

Helps peanut fix nitrogen in the soil.

eaten by

Fall armyworm

Spodoptera frugiperda

Larvae feed on peanut leaves, causing damage to the plant.

eaten by

Humans

Homo sapiens

Peanuts are a major food crop, widely consumed by people.

Traits

Deciduous

Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.

Nitrogen Fixing

Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants.

Broadleaf Tree

Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.

Fruit Bearing

Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.

Nut Bearing

Nut bearing plants produce hard-shelled fruits, commonly known as nuts, which contain a single seed and are a valuable food source.

Oil Crop

This human use trait identifies species cultivated as oil crops, harvested for their seeds or fruits from which vegetable oils are extracted for food, fuel, or industrial uses.

Edible

Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.

Ancient Lineage

This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.

Temperate Rainforest

This habitat trait identifies species found in temperate rainforests, characterized by significant rainfall, mild temperatures, and dense evergreen or deciduous forests in coastal regions.