Beta vulgaris (Garden Beet Group)

Botanical Description

Beta vulgaris (Garden Beet Group) is an erect, biennial plant producing a rosette of leaves from a swollen rootstock. It grows around 60cm tall, with a flowering stem that can be 150cm or more tall. The beetroot is widely cultivated, both commercially and in gardens, for its edible root, though the leaves can also be eaten. The plant also has a range of traditional medicinal uses.