Dandelion
(Arachis hypogaea L.)
Dandelion
(Arachis hypogaea L.)
Peanuts originate from southern Bolivia and northwest Argentina. They are an ancient New World crop and were widely cultivated in Mexico, Central America, and South America during pre-Columbian times. Peanuts first entered Indonesia in the early 17th century, brought by Chinese and Portuguese traders, and were first discovered in Maluku. Today, peanuts are widespread in most tropical and subtropical countries. This plant has long been cultivated in Indonesia and is generally planted in dryland areas. Production centers are still limited to several districts in East Java, Central Java, West Java, and several areas in West Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi. Peanuts are a very common and valued food crop, especially for their edible seeds and oil. The seeds are rich in protein and oil, as well as a good source of minerals and vitamins, especially B complex. They are one of the most widely used vegetable oils in the world and are often used in cooking, making margarine, and salad oil. The seeds are edible and processed as a food ingredient for making snacks, cakes, jams, confectionery, thickening soups, sauces, and various dishes. Besides being a food ingredient, the seeds produce a non-drying oil that has various uses in the manufacture of medicines, soaps, cold creams, pomades, lubricants, paints, emulsions for insect control, and fuel for diesel engines. Peanut shells also have utility values, including being used as fiber in animal feed, fuel, fertilizer, and mulch. As a medicinal plant, peanuts are used in traditional African medicine. Likewise, in China, peanuts are considered a demulcent (cough medicine) and peptic. Peanut oil also has mild laxative properties.
Peanuts can be found growing in areas up to an altitude of 1,500 m above sea level. This plant grows best in full sun in moist, light, humus-rich, but well-drained, well-drained soil. Peanuts are very suitable for planting on sandy loam, sandy loam or sandy clay soil with soil acidity (pH) in the range of 6.5-7.0. At a soil pH of 7.5-8.5 (alkaline reaction) the leaves will turn yellow and black spots will appear on the pods. Average monthly temperatures between 22-27 °C produce the best plants, while growth stops at temperatures around 15 °C. Peanuts prefer areas with annual rainfall between 750-1,250 mm/yr and are drought tolerant and can withstand severe water shortages.
The taproot is well-developed with numerous lateral roots and has nitrogen-fixing nodules.
The stem is short, segmented, and branched.
The leaves are green, spirally arranged, pinnately compound, and 4-foliolate with two pairs of opposite leaflets. The leaf blade is ovate or elliptical, with a cuneate-rounded base, a rounded or emarginate apex, and a small tail (mucronate).
The flowers are butterfly-shaped, with a calyx with four fused upper lobes and free lower lobes. The corolla is pale yellow to orange-red, rarely white, and has a standard globose shape. The stamens are 8–10, alternating with small, globose anthers and larger, oblong anthers, fused at the base.
The fruit is an oblong, cylindrical pod containing one to six seeds with a constriction between the seeds and a hard, brown shell.
The seeds are cylindrical to ovoid, with pointed or flattened tips, covered in a thin seed coat ranging in color from white to dark purple.
Generative propagation (seeds). Soak seeds for 12 hours in warm water and sow them 5-7 cm deep.
Select superior plant seeds from healthy, mature, and sufficiently dry parent plants with a moisture content of approximately 12%. Select seeds that are brightly colored, not pale, not wrinkled, free from pests and diseases, without defects, and full of nutrients.
Soil temperature is an important factor influencing seed germination and the initial growth of seedlings. At soil temperatures below 18°C, germination will be slow, while temperatures above 40°C will kill newly planted seeds. Peanut plant growth increases with increasing temperatures from 20°C to 30°C. The optimum growth temperature ranges between 27°C and 30°C, depending on the variety.
Good for pregnant women (prevents babies from being born with defects), reduces depression, reduces the risk of gallstones, eye drops to treat eye injuries and cataracts, gonorrhea, fights syphilis, treats rheumatism, prevents hemophilia tendencies, treats several blood disorders (mucorrhagia and rheumatic bleeding) in hemophilia, ear drops for earwax, treats female infertility, removes insect bites, relieves coughs, treats pleurisy, dysuria (pain when urinating), enteritis (including colitis), has aphrodisiac properties, is a mild laxative, anti-inflammatory, and diuretic.
Asam (arachidic acid, aspartic acid, behenic acid, chlorogenic acid, stearic acid, gadoleic acid, gentisic acid, lauric acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, p-coumaric acid, palmitic, palmitoleic, ascorbic acid, caprylic), arachin, lecithin, flavonoid (quercetin, rutin), beta-carotene, asam amino (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, alanine, arginine, cystine, phenylalanine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, proline, serine, tyrosine, threonine, tryptophan, valine).
Socfindo Conservation. 2023. Kacang Tanah. https://www.socfindoconservation.co.id/plant/754 (20-06-2023)