Arachis is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. It is commonly known as the PEANUT and is native to South America. The term arachis is derived from the Greek word for 'PEANUT'. Peanuts are an important source of nutrition and are widely used in cooking and baking. They are also used to make PEANUT butter, which is a popular spread. Peanuts are also used to make oil, which is used in many products such as cosmetics and soaps.