Peanut
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| Peanut | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Peanut (Arachis hypogea) | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Arachis hypogaea L. |
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A peanut is a herbaceous plant in the legume family, Fabaceae. It is native to South America, Central America and Mexico.[1] Peanuts are annual herbaceous plants growing 30 to 50 cm (1 to 1.5 ft) tall.
Despite the name, the plant is not a nut in the biological sense, but a legume.
Peanuts have been cultivated in South America for a very long time. Today most peanuts are eaten roasted and salted. Peanut butter peanut brittle and candy bars are also often eaten.
The U.S. introduced the peanut to the tropical South America, and India, China, West Africa, and itself to become the largest commercial producers of peanuts. The peanut was grown mainly for its edible oil, except in the U.S., where it was produced for grinding into peanut butter, for roasted, salted nuts; and for use in candy and bakery products. A small percentage of the U.S. crop is crushed for oil. In the southern U.S. the peanut is used extensively as feed for livestock.
[change] References
- ↑ World Geography of the Peanut. Lanra.uga.edu (2004-01-02). Retrieved on 18 August 2009.
