Black Gram, Urd Bean, Black Matpe, Black Mung Bean
Vigna mungo

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

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. Flowers are yellow and in dense clusters. Young seedpods and seeds are cooked and consumed as a vegetables. Dried seeds are boiled or ground into flour. The leaves are also edible. In traditional medicine, the seeds are used as a poultice on abscesses. Seed flour is rich in saponins and can be used as a substitute to soap. The plant has the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen hence it is grown in some areas as green manure.

Vigna mungo is a ANNUAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile. It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and saline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist or wet soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 1

Where it is found

Not known in a truly wild situation.

E. Asia - the exact original wild range is unknown.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Egypt, Fiji, Gabon, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Marianas, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nepal, North Africa, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Philippines, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

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. They can also be ground into a flour as a protein enhancing additive to flour when making bread etc. In India they are an essential ingredient of idli and dosa - acid-leavened fermented cakes make from rice and dhal. The ellipsoid, usually black seed is up to 5mm long. Leaves.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Seedpod: things such as Okra, French and Runner beans.

Medicine

Rating: 2

In traditional medicine, the seed is used for its suppurative, cooling and astringent properties. For example, it is ground into a powder, moistened and applied as a poultice on abscesses.

Astringent: Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.

Poultice: A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.

Other

Rating: 2

Agroforestry Uses: Plants are grown as a green manure. In the wet season in India this species is mainly intercropped, with sugar cane, cotton, groundnut, sorghum or pigeon pea as the main crops. In the dry season it is often sole cropped on rice fallow. Other Uses The seed flour is rich in saponins and can be used as a soap substitute. It makes the skin smooth and soft.

Green manure: Fast-growing plants that can be used to increase the fertility of the soil.

Soap making: Plants used as an ingredient in making soaps. Does not include the essential oils, dyes and oils that are also used in making soap.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

Nitrogen Fixer: Plants that fix nitrogen in the soil

How it is grown

A plant of the drier tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 2,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 35°c, but can tolerate 8 - 40°c. The plant does not tolerate frost. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 650 - 900mm, but tolerates 530 - 2,430mm. Rain at flowering time has a very adverse effect upon seed yields. Plants are not adapted to wet, humid areas with high rainfall, but can, however, be grown in the dry season of wetter areas so long as this is at least 4 months in duration. Requires a sunny position. Grows well in well-drained, fairly heavy fertile soils. Tolerant of moderate levels of salt in the soil. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 7.5. Established plants are drought resistant. Immature pods can be harvested about 60 - 80 days after sowing. Mature beans can be harvested after 75 - 130 days. Yields of 500 - 650 kilos per hectare of dried seeds can be obtained. The average yield of dry seeds in India can vary between 340 - 1,500 kilos per hectare. There are some named varieties. There are three main forms of this plant: Var mungo. A large seeded, early maturing form with black seeds. Var viridis Bose. A small seeded late maturing form with brown, green or grey seeds. Ver silvestris Lukoki, Mar?chal & Otoul. The original, wild form. Most cultivars require short daylengths. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby. When removing plant remains at the end of the growing season, it is best to only remove the aerial parts of the plant, leaving the roots in the ground to decay and release their nitrogen.

Propagating it: Seed - presoak for 12 hours in warm water and sow in situ. The seed generally sprouts within 7 - 10 days.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Annual

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist, wet

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Adad, Arad, Karu-minimulu, Maga, Mas, Mash kalai, Masha, Matimah, Minumulu, Nallaminumulu, Tikari kalai, Uddu, Udid, Ulundu, Urad, Urd dhal, Urdi, Uzhunnu, ambérique, black gram, fagiolo urd, feijão-da-china, frijol mungo, haricot mungo, mash, mash kalai, masha, moong, mung bean, urd, urd bean, urd-bean, urdbohne, urdböna, urd|ulundu / urd.

Synonyms

Azukia mungo (L.) Masam. Phaseolus hernandezii Savi Phaseolus mungo L. Phaseolus radiatus Roxb. Phas