Black Gram (Vigna mungo)

Family: Fabaceae | Edibility: Choice Edible (4/5)

Vigna mungo or also known in various common names such as Black Gram, Urd Bean, Black Matpe, and Black Mung Bean, is an erect, hairy, and bushy annual plant with a well-developed tap root and grows up to 100 cm in height. It is often grown in the Indian subcontinent. The pods are narrow and cylindrical with each pod containing about 4-10 small, black seeds. The leaves are composed of three oval leaflets each.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds, Leaves

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Young seedpods - cooked and used as a vegetable. The seedpods are about 40 - 70mm long and 5mm wide. Seeds - cooked. The dried seeds are boiled and used in a variety of recipes. — Young seedpods - cooked and used as a vegetable.; The seedpods are about 40 - 70mm long and 5mm wide.; The dried seeds are boiled and used in a variety of recipes.; They can also be ground into a flour as a protein enhancing additive to flour when making bread etc.

Habitat & North American Range

Not known in a truly wild situation. (Zone 10)