The peanut, or groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), is a species in the legume or "bean" family (Fabaceae). The peanut was probably first cultivated in the valleys of Peru. Peanuts are known by many other local names such as earthnuts, ground nuts, goober peas, monkey nuts, pygmy nuts and pig nuts.Peanuts have many uses. They can be eaten raw, used in cooking & various ethnic and modern recipes, made into solvents and oils, used in make-up, medicines, textile materials, peanut butter, as well as many other uses. Peanuts are also used in a wide variety of other areas, such as cosmetics, nitroglycerin, plastics, dyes and paints.