Question

Peanut (Archis hypogea) belongs to the family of
A. Papilionaceae
B. Poaceae
C. Palmaceae
D. Musaceae

Answer 1

Hint: This family of peanut is also known as Fabaceae or Leguminosae. Peanut is a plant that grows annually from 30 to 50 cm in height. Like most other legumes, the peanuts contain in their root nodules symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Complete Answer:
- Peanut is the vegetable crop that is primarily made for its edible seeds, and is known as the goober, groundnut, pindar, or monkey nut. It is widely cultivated in the subtropics and tropics, which are both essential to small and big trade producers. It is known as a grain legume, and is an oil crop because of its high oil content.
- In 2016, world annual peanut shelled production amounted to 44 million tonnes, with 38 percent of the world production led by China. Peanut pods are usually underground (geocarpy) instead of above ground among leguminous crop plants.
- The peanut as a legume belongs to the Fabaceae botanical family which is also known as Papilionaceae. It is also referred to as the Leguminosae and is usually referred to as bean or pea. Like many other legumes, peanuts contain root nodules containing symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
- This nitrogen fixing ability means that peanuts need less nitric fertiliser and also improves soil fertility that make it useful in crop rotations. Peanut is similar to tree nuts like walnuts and almonds in flavour and nutritional profile and, like a cooking nut, is frequently eaten in western cuisine in a similar way.

Thus, the correct answer is option A. i.e., Papilionaceae.

Note: Peanut pods are underground, an exceptional trait known as geocarpy. After fertilisation, the short stalk at the base of the ovary extends out into a so-called "peg" thread-like structure. This peg grows into the soil, and it evolves into a mature peanut jar that contains the ovary. The pods are 3 to 7 cm long with one to four seeds.