SC - Re: speaking of peanuts...

[Decker, Terry D.]

Probably Apios americana, the groundnut, which are found in Virginia and
were used as food by the American Indians.

The problem with the common name is that it is used for both the North
American groundnut and the peanut.

Bear

> Gerard lists a Pease Earth-Nut, that obviously isn't a peanut 
> based on the
> illustration and the fact that the pods ripen above ground.  
> It looks more
> like a vetch with small edible tubers.
> 
> Pease Earth-nut pages 1236-1237.
> 
> "Terraeglandes. Of Pease Earth-Nut.
> The Nuts of this Pease being boiled and eaten, are hardlier 
> digested than
> be either Turneps or Parsneps, yet do they nourish no
> lesse than the Parsneps: they are not so windie as they, they doe more
> slowly passe through the belly, by reason of their binding
> qualitie, and being eaten raw they be yet harder of digestion, and do
> hardlier and slowlier descend."
> 
> HTH,
> 
> Cindy