Cajanus cajan

Shrubs 0.5–4 m. Leaves: stipules triangular-lanceolate, 2–6 mm; petiole 1–8 cm; stipels 1–4 mm, leaflet blade elliptic, ovate, or lanceolate, 40–140 × 14–45 mm, discolorous, medium green abaxially, grayish green to almost silvery adaxially, soft-leathery, base cuneate, apex acute to acuminate. Peduncles 1–8 cm. Inflorescences 4–6 cm; bracts scalelike, 1–4 mm. Pedicels 7–15 mm. Flowers: calyx pubescent, tube 3–6 mm, lobes lanceolate, 3–7 mm; corolla banner sometimes red or orange abaxially, veins prominent; stamens 15–18 mm; anthers with distinct part upturned; ovary ovoid, 5–8 mm, pubescent; style 10–12 mm, glabrous; stigma relatively small. Legumes straight to falcate, 20–80(–130) × 4–10(–17) mm, hairs simple and bulbous-based. Seeds 4–9 × 3–8 mm, shiny, smooth; hilum with vestigial strophiole/rim aril, visible in developing seed, mostly disappearing at maturity. 2n = 22, 44, 66.

Phenology: Flowering late summer–mid winter.
Habitat: Fields, waste places.
Elevation: 0–50 m.

Introduced; Fla., Africa, introduced also in Mexico, West Indies (Antilles, Bahamas), Central America, South America, Asia, Australia.

Discussion

Cajanus cajan is widely cultivated as a rainy-season crop in semiarid and semihumid tropical areas of the world. The species is cultivated in the United States in Florida, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico; it sometimes escapes but is not invasive. Pigeonpea is the sixth most important pulse crop in the world, and was introduced into the Americas from India via Africa (Angola and Congo), in post-Columbian times prior to, or with, the slave trade. In Central America, the large-seeded vegetable pigeonpea cultivars usually are canned fresh and are used in Latin-American cuisine; the dry pulse makes good stews and Indian dishes. The world’s largest producer is India, where decorticated pigeonpea is prepared mainly as the protein-rich side dish “dhal” and savory snacks.

The English vernacular name pigeonpea was first used by L. Plukenet (1691–1705) pertaining to the Lesser Antilles (Barbados); it is sometimes written in two words (pigeon pea). Other names include Angola pea, Congo bean, gandul, gungo pea, or red gram.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa