Beet
Beet (Beta vulgaris)
Beet (pronounced: /biːt/), also known as the beetroot or garden beet, is a plant species in the family Chenopodiaceae. The term "beet" can also refer to the root portion of the plant, which is commonly consumed as a vegetable.
Etymology
The word "beet" comes from the Old English bēte, from Latin bēta. The Latin term was borrowed into a number of languages with the sense 'chard' (e.g. Italian bietola, French bette).
Description
Beets are characterized by their dark red, bulbous roots and leafy green tops. The plant is biennial, meaning it completes its life cycle in two years. In the first year, it produces a rosette of leaves and a taproot that can be harvested for consumption. In the second year, it produces a tall flower stalk.
Cultivation and Uses
Beets are cultivated for their edible roots, which are rich in sugar and other nutrients. They are also used as a source of sugar in some countries. The leaves of the beet plant, known as beet greens, are also edible and are often used in salads or cooked as a vegetable.
Related Terms
- Sugar beet: A variety of beet cultivated specifically for sugar production.
- Chard: A leafy green vegetable often considered a type of beet.
- Beta vulgaris: The scientific name for the beet plant.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Beet
- Wikipedia's article - Beet
This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski