Botanically, what classification does the edible seed of Arachis hypogaea belong to?
Answer
Legume
Botanically, peanuts are classified as legumes, which means they share an ancestry with other pulse crops such as peas and lentils. Although they are often mistakenly grouped with tree nuts due to their substantial fat content and commercial handling as oilseeds, their fundamental structure and origin place them within the legume family. This distinction is important because it places them in a different botanical category than actual tree nuts like almonds or walnuts. While their nutritional profile overlaps significantly with nuts because of high fat content, their fundamental biological classification remains that of a legume.

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