What is meant by the term pulses?
Pulses refer to the edible dried seed that comes from plants in the legume family. Pulses are eaten in the form of whole seeds, split grains, dehulled split grains and flour.
Sixteen species of pulses have been recognized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO):
Common bean
Lima bean
Mungo bean
Adzuki bean
Mung bean
Rice bean
Moth bean
Cowpea
Bambara groundnut
Hyacinth bean
Pea
Chickpea
Broad bean
Lentil
Lupin
Pigeon pea
Pulses and legumes do not refer to the same thing. Legumes refer to whole plants with fruit enclosed in a pod like fresh peas, soybeans, and green beans.