eli5: if peanuts grow underground, how do the above-ground flowers pass the pollination to the underground seeds?

Question

eli5: if peanuts grow underground, how do the above-ground flowers pass the pollination to the underground seeds?

In: Biology

Answer 1

The peanuts begin growing above ground immediately after being fertilized. After that, the stem holding the growing peanut beings to droop until it touches the ground, and then they grow *into* the ground. You can see that in [this illustration](https://jimmycarter.info/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/4a3325ccd9ea8f9099fdfd0b011a676e1.jpg) where the “pegs” lead from the stems down to the peanuts.