Peanut

The peanut (Arachis hypogaea), also known as the groundnut, goober (US, via Kikongo), goober pea, pindar (US, via Kikongo) or monkey nut (UK), is a legume crop grown mainly for its edible seeds, contained in underground pods. It is widely grown in the tropics and subtropics by small and large commercial producers, both as a grain legume and as an oil crop. Underground fruiting (geocarpy) is atypical among legumes, which led botanist Carl Linnaeus to name the species hypogaea, from Greek 'under the earth'. The peanut belongs to the flowering plant family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), commonly known as the pea family, and is native to South America. Like most other legumes, peanuts harbor symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules, which improve soil fertility, making them valuable in crop rotations. Edible products include peanut oil and peanut butter. Peanut sauces are used in Latin America and Southeast Asia, while in the Indian subcontinent, they are added to salads and stews. In North America, peanuts are used in candies, cakes, and cookies, while peanut butter is widely eaten. Some people are allergic to peanuts and can have a fatal reaction. The plant tops are used for silage, while oilcake meal is used as animal feed and as a fertilizer. Industrial uses include paint, varnish, and furniture polish made with peanut oil.