Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.

Erect subshrub or shrub 1.5-3(4) m tall. Stems prominently ribbed, covered with short golden appressed or slightly spreading silky pubescence. Leaflets elliptic to lanceolate, green above, conspicuously paler silvery grey-green beneath, 2.5-10 x 1.4-3.5 cm, acute, cuneate, with exceedingly fine, short, velvety pubescence above and longer whitish hairs beneath, both surfaces (particularly the lower) covered with small yellow glands; venation prominent beneath and yellowish in life; petiole 1-5.5 cm long; rhachis 0.8-1.3 cm long, slightly winged; petiolules 2-4 mm long, fulvous pubescent. Inflorescence a terminal panicle together with numerous subcapitate axillary racemes. Peduncles 2-7 cm long; bracts deciduous, ovate, 8 x 5 mm, acute; pedicels 1-1.7 cm long; all fulvous pubescent. Calyx velvety fulvous and glandular; tube 5 mm long; lobes 4-7 mm long. Standard bright yellow with reddish-brown or crimson guide lines and often flushed a similar colour outside, almost round, 1.2-1.7 cm in diameter; wings yellow; keel yellow-green. Pods straw-coloured, often streaked purplish-black, almost straight, 4.5-10 × (0.5)0.8-1.4 cm, hairy and glandular. Seeds buff or cream-coloured with a chestnut hilum, or brown or reddish, compressed-globose, 6-6.5 x 4.5-5.5 mm, minutely shallowly pitted.

A tropical plant. Plants require a tropical or subtropical climate. Plants grow from sea level up to about 1800 m in the tropics. They can tolerate drought and are suited to a drier climate. They can grow in places with less than 600 mm rainfall per year. They do less well in the wet tropics. It suffers in waterlogged soils and is damaged by frost. It can also tolerate heat. It will grow on poor soils. It cannot grow on salty soils. It grows to about 2000 m in Nepal. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Young leaves, shoots and pods are eaten. The pods can be used in curries. The leaves and shoots as potherbs. Young seeds are cooked and eaten like peas. Ripe seeds are also cooked and eaten in soups and curries. Bean sprouts can be produced and eaten. Preparation of the seeds for dahl is somewhat complicated.

They are grown from seeds. It is best to sow seeds where the plants are to grow. Seeds normally germinate easily and well. Before sowing seed it helps to soak them in cold water for one day. Seeds store well if kept cool and dry. A spacing of 1.5 m x 1.5 m is suitable. Plants can be cut back and allowed to re-grow. Plants can also be grown from cuttings.