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cajan pea

cajan pea

9.1
A tropical plant with hard stems and yellow flowers that has flat pods of edible seeds
  • noun
  • Indian
: planta de cajan
  • The bright yellow flowers of the cajan pea add beauty to tropical fields.

Examples

  • Farmers in India often grow cajan pea as a major source of protein.

  • Many farmers grow cajan peas for their nutritional value.

  • Many traditional dishes in the Caribbean use cajan pea as a main ingredient.

  • The cajan pea is a staple in many tropical diets.

  • Farmers in India often grow cajan pea as a major source of protein.

  • Many traditional dishes in the Caribbean use cajan pea as a main ingredient.

  • The bright yellow flowers of the cajan pea add beauty to tropical fields.

Synonyms

dhal
vscajan pea
  • Indian
1 8.9

A tropical plant with yellow flowers and flat pods grown for edible seeds

refers to the same plant but in standard cultivation contexts
pigeon pea
vscajan pea
1 6.0

A tropical shrub with yellow flowers that produces seeds eaten as food

focuses on edible seeds rather than its use as animal feed
Cajanus cajan
vscajan pea
  • Specialized
1 9.4

A tropical plant with yellow flowers and flat pods that makes edible seeds like peas

is the common, nontechnical name used by farmers and sellers
red gram
vscajan pea
  • Indian
1 8.4

A tropical plant grown for its small edible seeds used like peas

is the general tropical name without emphasizing subtropical spread
pigeon-pea plant
vscajan pea
  • Australian
7.6

A tropical shrub with yellow flowers and flat pods that gives edible seeds

is the everyday name stressing tropical cultivation and common use
catjang pea
vscajan pea
9.9

A tropical plant with yellow flowers that makes flat pods with edible seeds

focuses on edible seed cultivation rather than ornamental flowers
dahl
vscajan pea
  • UK
9.9

A woody plant that grows in warm places and has bright yellow flowers and flat pods

highlights the edible-seed crop aspect rather than just plant appearance

Surface Forms

cajan pea singular
cajan peas plural

Morphology

cajan + pea

The first constituent 'cajan' is an uncommon botanical/genus term (not a transparent English word) so its contribution to meaning is not predictable; knowing only 'pea' (a small seed) does not allow a learner to infer the species-specific sense 'tropical woody plant with yellow flowers.' Because the compound is essentially a lexicalized scientific name/term rather than a compositional phrase, it would be opaque to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Cajan pea may come from the plant's local name cajan and the word pea. Farmers grew a woody tropical plant with flat pods and yellow flowers for its seeds, so the name came to mean the whole plant, also called 'pigeon pea'.