Beta vulgaris
Beta vulgaris
Beta vulgaris (pronunciation: /ˈbiːtə vʌlˈɡɛərɪs/), commonly known as the beet, is a plant species in the Amaranthaceae family. It is a diverse species with members including the red beetroot, sugar beet, and chard.
Etymology
The name "Beta" is derived from the ancient Greek word for beet, βήτα. "Vulgaris" is Latin for "common".
Description
Beta vulgaris is a herbaceous biennial or, rarely, perennial plant with leafy stems growing to 1–2 m tall. The leaves are heart-shaped, 5–20 cm long on wild plants (often much larger in cultivated plants). The flowers are produced in dense spikes, each flower very small, 3–5 mm diameter, green or tinged reddish, with five petals.
Cultivation and uses
Beta vulgaris is cultivated for its edible roots, such as the beetroot or garden beet, and for its leaves, such as chard and spinach beet. The sugar beet is a significant commercial crop grown for sugar production.
Related terms
- Amaranthaceae: The family to which Beta vulgaris belongs.
- Beetroot: The root of the Beta vulgaris, often consumed as a vegetable.
- Sugar beet: A cultivar of Beta vulgaris, grown commercially for sugar production.
- Chard: A leafy green vegetable often used in Mediterranean cooking, also a cultivar of Beta vulgaris.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Beta vulgaris
- Wikipedia's article - Beta vulgaris
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