64 



THE PEANUT— THE UNPREDICTABLE LEGUME 



1. Virginia (figures 18, 19, 20). — Plants copiously branched, con- 

 sisting as in Valencia and Spanish of four or more principal lateral 

 branches. Laterals frequently far exceeding the main stem in length, 

 though of approximately the same length in some erect types. Main stem 

 nodes all vegetative. All lateral branches vegetative in the first node and 

 mostly vegetative in the second node. Nodes of the lateral branches of all 

 orders generally occur in alternating pairs of two vegetative and two re- 

 productive. Upper internodes 20-25 mm. in length. The main stem usually 

 produces many lateral branches in erect types or few in prostrate types. 

 Leaves and leaflet smaller, leaflets more firm and pointed elliptic than in 

 the two following; dark, glaucous green. Stems moderate in size less 

 coarse than in following, erect or prostrate. Fruits from 2-5 cm. in length 

 1-3 seeded, mostly 2 seeded. Shells thick or thin, reticulation usually 

 prominent. Constrictions between seeds apparent to marked. Seeds 0.5 

 gm.-2.0 gms., elongated and pointed, usually germinating only after 30- 



.i 



Figure 19. — An n + 1 order, cotyledonary lateral branch of a Virginia bunch pea- 

 nut. The same succession of two n-\-2 vegetative branches and two n-\-2 re- 

 productive branches occurs as is found in Virginia runner. The branching pat- 

 tern of the higher order (n + 2, n + 3) vegetatives also consists of alternating 

 pairs of vegetative and reproductive branches. As in Virginia runner, the extent 

 of the branching order is indeterminate, but in Virginia bunch it usually does 

 not exceed n-\- 3 V and n-\-4 R. 



