Linda: could be, though if one were primarily interested in the nut, I'd guess they'd know it's a nut. Still you may be right that they saw it as having this shape. It still is one of the better explanations so far in my opinion.
Stellar: the Diaspora in your article is actually a term from genetics that has little to do with names for plants. Soy Beans are an interesting crop to consider, but it looks like they left their native region of East Asia relatively late and weren't even cultivated in India by the 15th century.
The other plant you linked has a serrate leaf but doesn't explain the rest of the image. It is quite interesting in itself though, since it is common and was apparently exported as a type of hemp.
David: the most amusing example in that list is "Christ Sex Predator" - where do they get those phrases
Stellar: the Diaspora in your article is actually a term from genetics that has little to do with names for plants. Soy Beans are an interesting crop to consider, but it looks like they left their native region of East Asia relatively late and weren't even cultivated in India by the 15th century.
The other plant you linked has a serrate leaf but doesn't explain the rest of the image. It is quite interesting in itself though, since it is common and was apparently exported as a type of hemp.
David: the most amusing example in that list is "Christ Sex Predator" - where do they get those phrases