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Arachis hypogaea
| Family Name: | Fabaceae (Leguminosae) |
| Common Name: | Kachang Goreng, Groundnut, Peanut, Monkey-nut, Earthnut, Kacang tanah, 落花生, 花生 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
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Biogeography
| Native Distribution | South America |
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Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A monoecious annual herb, it has a prostrate to erect growth form and can grow 15 to 70cm high. |
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| Roots | It has a taproot, and the lateral roots have nitrogen-fixing nodules. |
| Foliage | The leaves are pinnately compound, with each obovate leaflet measuring 3 - 7cm x 2 - 3cm. The leaflets fold at night in response to the absence of light. This trait allows the plant to conserve water by reducing the area over which water is lost through transpiration at a time when the plant cannot perform photosynthesis any way. |
| Flowers | The stalkless flowers are yellow, butterfly-shaped and are borne on a stalked inflorescence. |
| Fruit | After fertilization, a stalk-like structure or a 'peg' elongates and curves downwards into the soil. Under the soil, the ovary develops into a fruit in the form of a cylindrical pod containing 1 to 6 seeds with constrictions between the seeds. Each seed is covered in a thin, papery seed coat. |
| Cultivation | It grows best under full sun in moist, but well-drained soil. The seed can be collected from fresh peanuts sold at local markets and sown in a large pot or in the ground. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Seeds Food (Fruit or Vegetable): The seeds are crushed and used to produce cooking oil. The remnants of the crushed seeds are used to produce groundnut flour or used as high-protein animal feed. The seeds can also be eaten raw or cooked and are used in confections, sauces and snack foods. In Singapore, peanuts are used to add flavor to glutinous rice balls (Tang Yuan) or rice cakes (Min Chiang Kueh). They are also crushed and made into a dipping sauce for satay sticks (slices of meat barbequed on bamboo skewers). |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Small Gardens, Groundcover |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
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| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Orange |
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Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden |
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| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Rough |
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Pink, Red |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Few (1-5) |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 387 |
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| Species ID | 1683 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
