They are lens shaped, generally from 2 to 9 millimeters in diameter, and vary from 15,600 to 100,000 seeds per pound. Seeds produced in North America are generally larger than seeds produced in the Near East and India. Seed color can be tan, brown, black, or purple and black mottled. The seed sur-face is generally smooth but on some large seeds may be wrinkled. Lentils are sometimes used in soups, stews and salad dishes, but lentils produced in extremely dry conditions generate a hard seed coat which may make them difficult to cook.
Lentils are well adapted to semi-arid, cool conditions.
In fact, lentils will not produce acceptable seed yields in hot, wet areas. Excessive humidity or high rainfall will promote vegetative growth and reduce seed yield. Annual rainfall of 10 to 12 inches will produce good yields of high-quality lentil seed. Young lentil plants are tolerant of light frost, which makes early spring planting possible in North Dakota. Lentil plants are adapted to a wide variety of soil types, providing they have good internal drainage.