55 



22.— GROUND NUT. 



Nat. Oed. — Leguminosae. 



Arachis Hypogia. 



The Starch in this Nut exists only in small 

 quantities, the amount being about 10 per cent. 

 It is illustrated here to show that it differs 

 considerably from other Leguminous Starches, 

 being small and circular, with a distinct round 

 hilum, and that it is therefore not safe to trust 

 entirely to general characters when tracing a 

 Starch to its source. The nut is valuable prin- 

 cipally for the large amount of oil it contains, 

 considerable quantities of which are imported into 

 this country from the West Coast of Africa. 

 The residual cake, after the oil has been 

 extracted, is used for feeding cattle. The plant 

 has a peculiar way of ripening its seeds, the stem 

 bearing the unripe pods bends over and forces 

 itself under ground, where the fruit is matured, 

 hence the name Ground Nut or Earth Nut. The 

 fruit is also known as Monkey Nut. 



Before leaving the Leguminosce mention may 

 be made of the Soy Bean, Soja hispida, a seed 

 containing a very large quantity of albuminoids 

 and oil, together with an active ferment, which, 

 acting on the Starch, seems to convert it into 

 sugar and dextrin. Several beans were examined 

 without any Starch being discovered. 



