Lathyrus niger, also known as black pea, black lentil or black gram, is a species of plant in the legume family that is commonly cultivated in India and other parts of Southeast Asia. It is a low-growing plant that produces black seeds that are commonly used in cooking. Synonyms for Lathyrus niger include Vigna mungo, Phaseolus mungo and Dolichos mungo. Other common names for the plant include urad dal, urad bean and mungo bean. The plant is valued for its high protein content and is commonly used in traditional Indian dishes such as dal and papadum.