166 THE HUMAN SIDE OF PLANTS 



it is a native of America, and is extensively culti- 

 vated in the southern and southeastern United 

 States and in many parts of the Old World, to 

 which it has been introduced. Its bean-like fruits 

 not only are edible but are deliciously flavoured and 

 very nutritious. Being rich in fat, they produce 

 large quantities of oil. This oil is used for adul- 

 terating olive oil, for making soap, for lubricating, 

 and for various other purposes. 



The leaves of the peanut are arranged similarly 

 to those of clover, except that there are four in a 

 group instead of three. The blossoms are a dainty 

 yellow, in shape not unlike the sweet-pea. When 

 they have withered and fallen off, the stalk which 

 held the flower bends its head down to the ground 

 and pokes its nose into the earth to a depth of three 

 or four inches. There, well protected from outside 

 marauders, the seed pods develop. In this way the 

 plant escapes many enemies common to other 

 plants, yet unfortunately it has its own enemies 

 among such animals as hogs and ground-moles. 



The peanut has a near relative, the wild bean, or 

 hog-peanut, whose blossoms are purple, and grow 

 in clusters. The leaves are similar to the poison 

 ivy; and the interesting thing about this plant is 

 that it not only develops underground "peanuts," 

 but has also a crop of small beans dangling from 



