Tur is the Indian name for Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan). It is a woody, short lived perennial shrub with a height of 1 to 4 m. The plant has deep tap-root, angled and hairy stems and arid spirally arranged leaves. Size, shape and color of the seeds often vary. It is round or oval, white or grey, red, brown purplish or speckled, with a small white hillium.
Tropical Africa is the native land of Tur. The leaves are used as vegetable, where the immature pods are cooked. Dried seeds of the Pigeon Pea are used in soups and stews. Ripe dry seeds are boiled and used as a pulse. Dried husks, seeds arid broken dhal are used as cattle feed in India. Pigeon Pea is digestive and possesses medicinal properties. Inflammations of internal organs are relieved by the consumption of the pea. It is also effective for baldness, jaundice, checking breast milk secretion and piles.
