Beta vulgaris

Botanical Description

Beta vulgaris 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. A cultivated crop that is widely grown, especially in the temperate zone, this species provides the well-known root vegetable 'Beetroot'; the edible leaves of 'Spinach Beet' and 'Chard'; sugar extracted in large quantities from 'Sugar Beet'; and the fields of fodder beet used to feed livestock. The plants are widely cultivated for food, both commercially and in gardens, whilst there are also some selected forms with colourful leaves that are grown as ornamentals[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. , K Title Plants for a Future Author Ken Fern Description Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips. ].