100 DESCRIPTIVE BOTANY. 



iu size and delicacy of flavor, cue very conspicuous for its large fruit, which is 

 about two inches long and nearly an inch in diameter. The ordinary nut of 

 commerce is about an inch to an inch and a quarter in length and half an inch 

 or less iu diameter. A third variety is barely more than half an inch in length, 

 and correspondingly small iu diameter, but of A^ery delicate flavor. 



Geography. — The peanut is a subtropical plant. It grows and fruits in 

 the southern United States, but Avill not fruit in regions of severe frost. 

 It is an important crop in southern and central Virginia, and the Carolinas 

 and Tennessee. 



Etymology. — Arachis, the generic name, is derived by some from the Greek 

 words o, without, and poix^s, the backbone, which signifies, iu this application, 

 " without a stem," which is incorrect ; hence this derivation is obscure. Others 

 derive it from apaxos, a name applied to a kind of vetch by Theophrastus. 

 Hi/pogiea, the specific name, is from the Greek words utto, under, and yrj, tlie 

 earth, /. e., underground, due to the mode of ripening the fruit. Peanut is 

 named from the fact that the plant appears like the pea while growing. 

 Ground Nut and Ground Pea are thus named because they ripen under ground. 

 Monkey Nut receives its name from the fact that monkeys are fond of it. 



History. — De Candolle believes the peanut to be an American plant. It is 

 found in the tombs of the ancient Peruvians. It was introduced into Africa 

 from Brazil by the Spaniards, to feed the slaves on the passage over the ocean, 

 and it spread by commerce into northern Africa, southei-n Europe, India, China, 

 Japan, and North America. 



Use. — The peanut is a very popular nut among children and young people 

 in general. It is used sometimes as a dessert. It yields an excellent sweet 

 oil, Avhich is substituted for olive oil in the arts and for culinary purposes. 

 In China the oil is used for illuminating, and also for lubricating. Its roots 

 are sometimes used as a substitute for liquorice. 



In Virginia it is ground into flour and used for making pastry and biscuits, 

 and is said to be superior to wheat, on account of its rich, delicate flavor. 



Statistics and Commercial Importance. — The annual yield of the peanut in 

 Virginia is about 2,100,000 bushels ; in Tennessee, 250,000 bushels ; in North 

 Carolina, 13.5,000 bushels. Besides these, large quantities are imported from 

 South America and Africa. 



LENS, Moench. (Lentil.) Calyx 5-parted, parts narrow, lanceolate. 

 Corolla small, nearly concealed by the long segments of the calyx, 

 varying in color from white to lilac, or pale blue. Style erect. Stigma 

 smooth. Pods short and blunt, thin, smooth, and 2-seeded ; seeds iu 

 form of a circular double-convex lens. Annual. 



1. L. esculenta, Moench. Stem weak, about 10 to 18 inches high, branching. 

 Leaves pinnate, composed of 6 to 8 pairs of elliptical leaflets, the main leaf- 

 stock terminating in a branched tendril ; lower leaves without tendrils. Eruit a 

 short pod, with 1 to 2 seeds, about two eighths of an inch in diameter, yellowish- 

 brown. Flowers June to July. Fruits August. 



There are several varieties of the lentil, three of M^hich are usually under 

 cultivation. The Lens esculenta is the most common, and the most esteemed. 



Var. lutea, the yellow lentil, is said to be a favorite with the French. 



Var. Provence is a large, coarse sort, grown for stock. 



Geography. — The zone of the Lens is the middle and southern parts of 

 the north temperate zone, Syria, Egypt, southern and central Europe, and 



