Peanut: The multi-purpose food plant

The peanut. It's a favorite food of many, either part of a recipe, an ice cream topping, or simply a snack. But did you know part of the peanut is used as an ingredient in explosives? It may be a bit shocking, but it's true! Just check out the uses page.

Although many know it as the peanut, it also has many other common names. Among the English ones are goober, groundnut, pinder, earthnut, monkeynut and ground pea. Other languages and parts of the world have their own names, such as 落花生 (pronounced rakka-sei), lo hua sheng (China), and maní (Spanish). But focusing on the name 'peanut,' how did this plant, Arachis hypogaea, get such a name? Well, people are not really sure. However, it is agreed that it is a very misleading name, considering the peanut isn't really a nut. It's actually a legume. But more on what exactly the peanut is in the classification page.

On this website, you can find all sorts of interesting information relating to Arachis hypogaea, more commonly known as the peanut. From information on how it is classified to George Washington Carver and his multiple uses for this versatile legume, it's all here. Simply click on the links to your left.

 

So, where does the peanut fit in?

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