black gram

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Black Gram
• Urad Dal

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Phaseolus gibbosus
• Phaseolus hirtus
• Phaseolus hernandesii
• Phaseolus mungo
• Phaseolus hernandesii var. longepedunculatus
• Vigna silvestris
• Vigna mungo var. silvestris
• Phaseolus chlorospermus
• Azukia muogo
• Phaseolus minoomoo
• Phaseolus roxburghii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Vigna mungo, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, its specific classification is placed within the genus Vigna.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Vigna mungo, exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it is found within the borders of the Central African Republic and Cameroon. Its presence also extends to the territories of Gabon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Moving toward the eastern part of the continent, the species is located in East Tropical Africa. Specifically, its geographical range in this eastern region includes Tanzania.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Vigna mungo is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental process—from germination to seed production and senescence—within a single growing season. The cycle begins when seeds germinate under favorable warm and moist conditions, leading to the rapid establishment of a bushy, herbaceous plant. As the plant matures, it undergoes a vegetative growth phase followed by a reproductive phase, during which it produces trifoliate leaves and characteristic yellow flowers. Following successful pollination, the plant develops legume pods that house the mature seeds. Once the seeds have reached physiological maturity, the plant completes its biological objective and dies back, leaving the seeds to persist in the soil or be collected for the next planting cycle.

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Vigna mungo is characterized by a growth form classified as both a herb and a forb, exhibiting a non-woody structure throughout its development. As a terrestrial plant, it grows in land-based environments and functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic tendencies. The plant typically reaches a mean height of approximately 0.9 m, utilizing a self-supporting climbing mechanism to navigate its habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.9 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Vigna mungo is characterized by its efficient metabolic and nutrient-acquisition processes, most notably its reliance on the C3 photosynthetic pathway for carbon fixation. As a C3 plant, it utilizes the enzyme Rubisco to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide during the Calvin cycle, a process that dictates its optimal growth conditions and water-use efficiency. Complementing its metabolic framework is a highly specialized symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, as the plant functions as a nitrogen fixer. Through the formation of root nodules, Vigna mungo facilitates the biological nitrogen fixation process, converting atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, which significantly enhances its ability to thrive in nitrogen-poor soils and contributes to the overall fertility of the ecosystem.

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Vigna mungo is driven by biotic pollination mechanisms, specifically utilizing an insect-based pollination syndrome to facilitate the transfer of pollen. This reproductive process is characterized by the presence of self-fertilization, ensuring successful seed set within the species. The resulting seeds produced through this cycle are highly uniform in size, maintaining a consistent seed mass with a mean, maximum, and minimum value of 0.1 g.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass mean:

0.1 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Vigna mungo has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed.

Seed

1. The Indian journal of medical research
2. Indian journal of biochemistry & biophysics

Chemicals

Vigna mungo has 99 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CALCIUM, IRON, MAGNESIUM, lysine, -carotene.

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

IRON

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

MAGNESIUM

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

lysine

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
2. International journal of food sciences and nutrition

-carotene

1. Dr. Duke

ARSENIC

1. Dr. Duke

ATP

1. Biochimica et biophysica acta

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

Behenic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Beta-Mercaptoethanol

1. Journal of biochemistry

Activities

Vigna mungo has 350 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Analgesic, Anticancer, Anticonvulsant, Antidiabetic.

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry reviews : proceedings of the Phytochemical Society of Europe
3. Biochemical and biophysical research communications

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry reviews : proceedings of the Phytochemical Society of Europe

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry reviews : proceedings of the Phytochemical Society of Europe

Anticonvulsant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry reviews : proceedings of the Phytochemical Society of Europe

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry reviews : proceedings of the Phytochemical Society of Europe

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry reviews : proceedings of the Phytochemical Society of Europe

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry reviews : proceedings of the Phytochemical Society of Europe

Hypolipidemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Vigna mungo has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include constipation, diarrhea, dyspepsia, gastritis, inflammation.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations