Japanese name: ラッカセイ（落花生） Scientific name:Arachis hypogaea
[Overview]
An annual thought to originate from the eastern foothills of the Andes in Bolivia.
The stems creep along the ground or are semi-trailing, and branch well.
Leaves are alternate and palmately compound with 4 leaflets; the leaflets are ovate, thick and dark green.
The flowers are yellow pea-type flowers borne in spikes from the leaf axils.
A few days after fertilization, a stalk-like ovary stalk between the ovary and the receptacle elongates and burrows into the ground, where the fruit ripens.
The legume does not split open even when ripe.
[Uses]
The beans are rich in protein and fat, and besides being eaten, they are used for oil extraction, cosmetics, medicine and more.
[Cultivation]
The optimum growth temperature is high, at 25–27 °C.
It prefers a well-drained, sunny site.
Once the ovary stalks begin to burrow into the ground, hill up soil so that sunlight does not reach the pods.
Propagate from seed.
Pests and diseases include scab, brown spot, southern blight, aphids, stink bugs, bean pod borers and spider mites.
[Notes]
The Japanese name Rakkasei comes from the fact that it forms its fruit underground.
