Description

The peanut, or groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), is a species in the legume "bean" family (Fabaceae) native to South America, Mexico and Central America. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing *0 to *0�cm (0.*8 to 1.6�ft) tall. The leaves are opposite, pinnate with four leaflets (two opposite pairs; no terminal leaflet), each leaflet 1 to 7�cm (? to 2� in) long and 1 to 3�cm (? to 1�inch) broad. The flowers are a typical peaflower in shape, 2 to 4�cm (� to 1� in) across, yellow with reddish veining. After pollination, the fruit develops into a legume 3 to 7�cm (1.2 to 2.8�in) long, containing 1 to 4 seeds, which forces its way underground to mature � � � �