GROUND NUT

(നിലക്ക ടല)
 Binomial : Arachis hypogea L.
Family: Fabaceae
Sub family : Papilionaceae
Morphology of the useful part : Seeds
 Origin : South America.

 Ground nut is grown on a large scale in almost all tropical and sub-tropical

countries like India ,China , USA , Africa etc.

 India is the largest peanut producing country in the world.

Morphology
• The plant is a herbaceous annual with tap root system.
• The stem is cylindrical , hairy and becomes more or less angular with age.
• The main axis is long and erect.
• Laterals are oblique to the main axis in the bench type . In the spreading type ,
the main axis is very short and erect and the lateral spread horizontally along the
ground.
Flower
 Small.
 Yellowish orange in colour.
 Grow singly or in cluster(2-4).
 Flowers are self pollinated.
 Even after fertilization, all ovaries do not develop into fruits.
 About 65% of the potential fruits actually elongate as pegs , which are purple or light
purple.
 After entering the soil , the peg develops into a pod . The shell of the pod consist of an
outer spongy layer , middle fibrous and woody layer , and inner layer which lines the pod
papery.
 The number of kernels in the pod varies from 1-5.
Economic Importance of Ground Nut

 Ground Nut kernels are rich and cheap sources of protein.

 Ground Nut oil is extensively used in cooking , soap making ,shaving creams ,cold
creams etc.
 The oil can also be used as an illuminant , lubricant and also for the manufacture of
olein, stearin and their salts.
 The oil emulsion is used as an insecticide.
 The oil cake is used as cattle feed , manure etc.
 Ground nut shell is used in the manufacture of activated carbon , acetic acid, alcohol,
acetone etc.
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