The peanut is a legume (like beans and lentils). Its origin is believed to be dual; indeed, we find it throughout the Andes and even in Inca tombs, but fossilized peanuts over 100,000 years old have been found in China. It is also called groundnut, pinotte (from the English peanuts), earth pea, and even earth pistachio. It is an annual plant with very pretty yellow flowers that has the unique characteristic of burying its fruits after fertilization.