A'RACIIIS, a genus of plants belonging to the natural order Leyumi moses. One species, A. hypoyrn, is called the Earth-Nut The circuit)• stance by which the Arnehis hypoyan is particularly remarkable is the manner in which its fruit in produeetL Instead of hanging down from among the leaves in the manner of other plants, this conceals itself in the earth, in which it is deeply buried at the period when it becomes ripe, a phenomenon which happens thus :—Tho young fruit, instcul of being placed at the bottom of the calyx, as in other kinds of pulse, is found at the bottom and in the inside of a long slender tube, which looks like a flower-stalk. When the flower has withered, and the young fruit is fertilised, nothing but the bottom of this tube with its contents remains. At this period a small point projects from the summit of the young fruit, and gradually elongates, curving downwards towards the earth. At the same time the stalk of the fruit lengthens, until the small point strikes the earth, into which the now half-grown fruit is speedily forced, and where it filially ripens in what would seem a most unnatural position. When mature, it is a pale-yellow wrinkled oblong
pod, often contracted in the middle, and containing two or three seeds the size of a hazel-nut. These are considered a valuable article of food in Africa and the tropical parts of Asia and America. In flavour the nuts are as sweet as an almond ; and they yield, when prmsed, an oil in no respect inferior to that of olives.
The plant will only grow in a light sandy soil, in which its pods can readily be buried, and it requires a climate as hut at least as that of the south of France. Its stems grow from one to two feet high ; its leaves are composed of four broad and blunt leaflets ; and its flowers are small and of a pale yellow colour.