Whole urad or black gram is a bean grown in southern Asia. Black gram has been cultivated in India since ancient times. It is an erect, sub-erect or trailing, densely hairy annual herb. The tap root produces a branched root system with smooth, rounded nodules. The pods are narrow, cylindrical and up to 6 cm long. The whole bean, or the split and de-husked variety are used to make dal, for accompanying rotis and rice. It is also used to make the famous south Indian idli and dosa.