Beta (plant)

Beta
Beetroots (cultivated Beta vulgaris)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Core eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Subfamily: Betoideae
Genus: Beta
L. [1]
Type species
Beta vulgaris L. [1]
Species

see text

Beta is a genus in the flowering plant family Amaranthaceae. The best known member is the common beet, Beta vulgaris, but several other species are recognised. Almost all have common names containing the word "beet".

Wild Beta species can be found throughout the Mediterranean coastline, the Atlantic coast of Europe (from Greece to Syria), the Near East, and parts of Asia including India. This genus consists of biennial or, rarely, perennial species. Cultivated forms are members of Beta vulgaris. Those grown for roots are known generally as beets and those for their leaves are chards. Leaves are small and glossy to large and crinkly or puckered. Small flowers are followed by knobbly seeds in profusion. Leaves of both forms are edible.

In cultivation, the plants prefer light well-drained soil which is not too rich and adequate water. Some can be propagated from seed.

Species

Beta adanensis (Beta vulgaris ssp. adanensis)
Beta altissima
Beta atriplicifolia
Beta bengalensis
Beta bourgaei
Beta brasiliensis
Beta campanulata
Beta chilensis
Beta cicla (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris convar. cicla)
Beta corolliflora
Beta intermedia
Beta lomatogona
Beta macrocarpa
Beta macrorhiza
Beta maritima (Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima)
Beta nana
Beta orientalis
Beta palonga
Beta patellaris
Beta patula
Beta perennis
Beta procumbens
Beta trigyna
Beta trojana
Beta vulgaris

Beta webbiana

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 The genus Beta was first described and published in Species Plantarum 1: 222. 1753. "Name - Beta L.". Tropicos. Saint Louis, Missouri: Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved August 26, 2011. Type Specimens: T: Beta vulgaris L.