Peanut (groundnut)

peanutsArachis hypogaea L.
Fabaceae (legume family)

Location: Oil seeds

Origin: South America, though today the leading producers are China and India, followed by USA.

Biophysical Requirements: Also called groundnut, peanut is a legume, which is cultivated on stone‐free sandy or sandy loam soils to allow the pod to penetrate underground for seed development and to facilitate digging at harvest. It is grown in warm environments. There are four main cultivar groups and two main growth forms: bunch and runner growth.

Food Uses:  The seeds are 40 to 80% edible oil and 25 to 30% protein.

More information

See also Purdue University new crops website.