Unlike "tree nuts," the peanut flowers above
the ground but fruits below the ground. The peanut seed grows into a green
oval-leafed plant about 18 inches tall, which develops delicate yellow flowers
around the lower portion of the plant. The flowers pollinate themselves,
then lose their petals as the fertilized ovary begins to enlarge. The budding
ovary or "peg" grows down away from the plant, forming a small stem, which
extends into the soil. The peanut embryo is in the tip of the peg, which
penetrates the soil. The peg begins to mature, taking the form of a peanut.
The plant continues to grow and flower, eventually producing 40 or more
mature peanuts, with the largest peanuts forming from the tap root of the
plant. From planting to harvesting, the cycle takes four to five months,
depending on the variety of peanut. |
