Definition

Noun 1. The seed of the pigeon pea plant: A small, highly nutritious legume seed from the tropical pigeon-pea plant (Cajanus cajan), used as a food source. 2. The pigeon pea plant itself: A tropical, woody, perennial shrub or herb cultivated for its edible seeds, characterized by showy yellow flowers and flat pods.

Usage Examples

• As a seed (food):
  • The recipe calls for one cup of dried cajan pea.
  • In many regions, cajan pea is a staple source of protein.
• As a plant:
  • The farmers planted rows of cajan pea to improve the soil.
  • The field of flowering cajan pea attracted many bees.

Advanced Usage

• Agricultural Context: The term is often used in agricultural and botanical contexts to refer specifically to the species , distinguishing it from other types of peas or legumes.
  • The study focused on the drought resistance of the cajan pea.

Variants and Related Words

• Pigeon pea: The most common synonym for both the seed and the plant.
• Congo pea: Another regional name for the same plant and seed.
• Gungo pea (Common in Caribbean English): A regional name for the pigeon pea.
• Cajanus cajan: The formal botanical (Latin) name for the species.

Synonyms

• Pigeon pea
• Congo pea
• Gungo pea
• Red gram (common in South Asia)
• Tropical green pea (a less common descriptive term)

Related Phrases and Terms

• Pigeon pea plant: The full name for the plant that produces the cajan pea.
• Split pigeon peas: Refers to the dried seeds that have been split in half, a common form for cooking.
  • The dhal was made from split cajan peas.

Noun

1. small highly nutritious seed of the tropical pigeon-pea plant
2. tropical woody herb with showy yellow flowers and flat pods; much cultivated in the tropics