Taxonomy, natural distribution, and attributes of Arachis
1994
Walls, J.F.M. | Simpson, C.E.
Arachis is a leguminous genus with unique reproductive features in that seed is set below ground. In the absence of a comprehensive taxonomic treatment of the genus, associating morphological and reproductive characters has helped group species into sections and series. While most of the variation in A. hypogaea is in the pod and seed, wild species show much variation over all the plant. Arachis is naturally confined to Brazil Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay. Recent intensive collection of Arachis germplasm has expanded the known area of distribution of many species and sections, and increased the number of species. Most of the research into species with forage value has been limited to species of sections Caulorhizae (A. pintoi and A. repens), Rhizomatosae (A. glabrata), or Procumbensae. However, essentially all information is based on a few widespread accessions. Discrimination between some species, such as A. pintoi and A. repens, has become more difficult as more morphological variation has become evident from recent collections. Species of other sections have forage potential and should be evaluated because of their forage quality, tolerance for water logging, and seed production, such as some accessions in section Procumbensae. A species in section Triseminalae from northeastern Brazil occurs in a very dry environment. Other species may offer alternatives for short rotations, hay production, or even as pioneer crops in the establishment of slow-growing stoloniferous or rhizomatous species of Arachis.
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