| Botanical Name: Arachis hypogaea |
Arachis hypogaea, also known as the peanut, groundnut and the goober, falls under the genus Arachis, which consists of 70 other species of flowering plants.
The peanut is a legume crop, which means it belongs to the family Fabaceae and is primarily grown for human consumption or for livestock forage. The plant is widely cultivated in the tropics and subtropics, with an annual production of 44 million tons (2016).
Unlike other legume crops, the peanut pods grow underground rather than above ground. This characteristic trait led Carol Linnaeus to the species as hypogaea, which in Latin, means “under the earth.”
Furthermore, since groundnuts are legumes, it harbours nitrogen-fixing bacteria in its roots nodules.
There are many varieties of peanuts, though four are the basic market types – Runner, Spanish, Virginia and Valencia.
Also Read:
- Biology Of Plants – Parts Of Plants, Diagram And Functions
- Types of Plants-Herbs, Shrubs, Trees, Climbers, and Creepers
Frequently Asked Questions on Botanical Name of Groundnut
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Arachis hypogaea is the botanical name for groundnut.
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