Black gram is the seed of Vigna mungo, a species of trailing plant in the family Fabaceae, originated in South East Asia. It is also known as black lentil, black matpe bean, Urad, urad dal, udad dal, urd bean, urd, urid, or white lentil. Black gram is widely grown in southern Asia, and is largely used to make dal from the whole or split, dehusked seeds (white lentils).
Black gram plant is an annual legume plant, 30-100 cm tall with both erect and trailing growth habit, and trifoliate leaves. The tap root has a branched root system with smooth, rounded nodules. The flowers are bright yellow color, produced in axillary clusters of 2-6. This is follow by short, flat pod, 4- 6 cm long, containing 3-10 black seeds. Black gram is boiled and eaten whole, or in paste form, or parched and ground into flour. Green pods are eaten as vegetables. It is used extensively in South Indian cuisine.
Black gram can be harvested for green pods after 60-80 days after planting, and 75-130 days for mature beans. In India, it is grown from sea level 2000 m in elevation. Black gram is drought-resistant, and prefers low to medium humidity, and not suitable to the wet tropics.
Black gram is high with dietary fiber, protein, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and niacin. Product known as 'black lentil' is usually the whole black gram, while 'white lentil' is black gram with the black skin removed.
Learn how to grow really fresh, tasty organic vegetables even if you live in a small apartment. The vegetables bought in supermarket will never match those that you grow yourself. They will be fresher, healthier and tastier, and compared to store-bought organic vegetables, they will be much, much cheaper. To learn more, Click Here!
All pages of The Flowering Garden are governed by the GNU Free Documentation License and may be printed out for use as long as derivative works observe the same license. No other form of reproduction is permitted without the written permission of The Flowering Garden. All third-party photographs may be reused only according to the licensing terms as specified. This is a Christian-run site. To know our belief, click on Introducing God.
