Lentil
Family Leguminosae: Papilionaceae (or Fabaceae)
Lens esculenta (= Lens culinaris, = Ervum lens), the lentil (L. esculenta 1), is a much branched and softly hairy annual herb, 25-40 cm tall, with compound pinnate leaves and small blue, white or pink flowers, borne in small axillary inflorescences. The pods are small and compressed, containing 1-2 seeds (L. esculenta 2). The seeds are lens-shaped, hence the name Lens for the genus.
Distribution
Lentils are of ancient cultivation in Egypt, South Europe and West Asia. Today they are cultivated in most subtropical and warm temperate regions.
Use
Lentils are a nutritious pulse with a high protein content. The split seeds are used in the Indian dish ‘ dhal’ . Flour from the ground seeds is used in pastries and in infant food. Young pods are used as a vegetable in India.