As one of the most consumed "nuts" in the world, peanuts are not a part of the nut family. They are a legume.
What is the difference between a legume and a nut? Legumes are beans and are grown on bushes/vines in pods. Nuts grow on trees, bushes, underground, and have their own husk (shell).
Peanuts originate from stems. After pollination the pods get pushed underground by the plant in the early stages of development. While underground, the peanuts mature to become 1 - 2 inches long. After 120 - 150 days they are dug up from just below the pods. The plant is turned upside down and the pods are left to dry for up to three days.
