Beta (plant)
Beetroots (cultivated Beta vulgaris)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiospermae
(unranked):	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Amaranthaceae
Genus:	Beta L.
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 the common name of "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 glossly 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, not too rich and adequate water. Some can be propagated from seed.

[edit] Species include

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

[edit] References

• Lord, Tony (2003) Flora : The Gardener's Bible : More than 20,000 garden plants from around the world. London: Cassell. ISBN 0-30436-435-5
• Sistematica

This vegetable-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e