Lentil (masoor)

Masur or lentil is a bushy, annual shrub plant that is popular for its lens shaped seeds, which are consumed as food in stew or other forms all over the world. These seeds have a vast range of colors from yellow to red-orange to green, brown and black and also have second highest levels of proteins and fiber after soybeans. The thin lentil plant, which is named ‘Lens culinaris’ botanically, comes from the legume family and gains a height of 12 to 24 inches at maturity. The tap root system of the plant usually grows to a depth of around 15 inches that makes it a moderately drought resistant shrub. Also possessing white to pale blue flowers, lentils are often considered a cousin of bean. Lentils are also important as they indulge in the nitrogen fixation process that helps the soil revive its nitrogen content.