AstroNut - Hi! I'm AstroNut, and I am a peanut. The peanut plant is unusual because its flowers are above the ground, but its fruits are below the ground. Peanuts have oval shaped leaves and are about 18 inches (about 30 cm) tall. Flowers develop around the lower portion of the plant. The flowers pollinate themselves and then lose their petals as the fertilized ovary begins to enlarge. The budding ovary or "peg" grows down away from the plant and forms a small stem that extends to the soil. The peanut embryo is in the tip of the peg, and it penetrates the soil. The embryo turns horizontal to the soil surface and begins to mature, taking the form of peanut. The peanut plant continues to grow and flower, eventually producing some 40 or more mature pods. From planting to harvesting, the growing cycle takes about four to five months, depending on the type or variety.

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