Peanut vs. Pistachio

Peanut and pistachio are types of flowering plants that are culinary better known as type of nuts. Peanut belongs to the pea family (it is actually a legume). It originates from South America. Pistachio is member of the cashew family. It originates from Central Asia and Middle East. Peanut and pistachio are cultivated around the world today. Peanut grows in areas with subtropical and tropical climate, while pistachio thrives the best in areas with cold winters and warm summers. They have similar nutritional value, but they differ in all other aspects:

Morphology of Mature Plant

Peanut is herbaceous plant that can reach 1 to 1.6 feet in height. It has pinnate leaves composed of 2 pairs of oppositely arranged oval leaflets. Peanut produces yellowish-orange flowers with red veins. They transform into pods filled with 1 to 4 seeds after successful pollination. Pods develop under the ground. Pistachio is small tree that can reach 33 feet in height. It has compound leaves that consist of 3 to 5 roundish leaflets. Pistachio is dioecious plant, which means that each tree produces either male or female flowers. Flowers of pistachio are small and greenish-brown colored. They transform into clusters of reddish, wrinkled fruit after pollination. Botanically speaking, fruit of pistachio is drupe. It consists of oblong kernel hidden inside bony shell which splits longitudinally when fruit becomes mature.

Nitrogen Fixation

Unlike pistachio, peanut lives in symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria which absorb atmospheric nitrogen and convert it into nitrates, plant-friendly form of nitrogen. This way, peanut significantly increases fertility of the soil.

Nutritional Value

Peanut and pistachio are rich source of fat, proteins and dietary fibers. Pistachio is good source of vitamin B6 and B1 and minerals such as phosphorus and manganese. Peanut is excellent source of vitamin E and vitamins of the B group (especially B9) and minerals such as manganese, magnesium, phosphorus and copper.

Consumption

Roasted or fried peanuts are consumed as snack worldwide. Peanut is also common ingredient of cakes, bars, pies, breakfast cereals and various savory dishes and it is frequently used in food industry for the manufacture of candies, chocolates, cookies, as well as peanut butter, peanut oil and peanut flour. Pistachio can be consumed fresh or roasted. It is often used for the preparation of ice-cream, baklava, pudding, pistachio butter and pistachio paste.

Other Application

Peanut oil is used in the industry of varnishes, dyes, insecticides and cosmetics. Peanut shells are used for the manufacture of wallboard, abrasives and cellulose. Pistachio shells are used for cleaning pollution induced by mercury.

Lifespan

Peanut completes its life cycle in one year (annual plant). Pistachio is perennial plant that can survive and produce fruit more than 20 years (few hundred years in some areas).