Peanut’s “Extinct” Wild Ancestor Found Alive And Well In The Andes’ Foothills

Plants and Animals





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The modern peanut's wild ancestors – Arachis ipaensis (left) and Arachis duranensis (right). Merritt Melancon/University of Georgia.

There’s scarcely a corner of the world that doesn’t like a good peanut in their cuisine. But for years, these legumes have had a mysterious backstory. Now, thanks to the discovery of a “living relic” wild peanut plant, scientists have traced back the biological origins of the humble legume.