What is "pigeon pea"

Angola pea \An*go"la pea`\ (Bot.) A tropical plant ( Cajanus indicus) and its edible seed, a kind of pulse; -- so called from Angola in Western Africa. Called also pigeon pea and Congo pea.

n. 1 A tropical African plant, (taxlink Cajanus cajan species noshow=1), formerly (taxlink Cajanus indicus species noshow=1). 2 The edible seed of this plant; dahl.

1. n. tropical woody herb with showy yellow flowers and flat pods; much cultivated in the tropics [syn: pigeon-pea plant, cajan pea, catjang pea, red gram, dhal, dahl, Cajanus cajan]

2. small highly nutritious seed of the tropical pigeon-pea plant [syn: cajan pea, dahl]

The pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) is a perennial legume from the family Fabaceae. Since its domestication in India at least 3,500 years ago, its seeds have become a common food grain in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. It is consumed on a large scale mainly in south Asia and is a major source of protein for the population of that subcontinent.