Beta vulgaris

Beta vulgaris (beet) is a species of flowering plant in the subfamily Betoideae of the family Amaranthaceae. It is a perennial plant usually growing up to 120 centimetres (4 ft) tall. Three subspecies are typically recognised. The wild ancestor of all the cultivated beets is the sea beet (Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima), with several modern cultivars all belonging to B. vulgaris subsp. vulgaris. Some of the most popular cultivar groups include: the sugar beet (used to produce table sugar), the root vegetable known as the beetroot or garden beet, the leaf vegetable known as chard or spinach beet or silverbeet, and mangelwurzel (a fodder crop).

Description

A dark green leafed plant. The plant is upright and about 20 cm tall. It can be grown as an annual plant. Normally it gives a thickened root in the first year then flowers in the second year. The leaves vary in shape and colour. They can be oval with an irregular wavy edge. They can be dark green or reddish. It has a round or elongated fattened root. The root is red in colour. (White varieties also occur). The flowers are small and green and have both sexes. They occur in flower arrangements with the end bud a flower bud. This forms a tall, branching, spike-like arrangement. The fruit are one seed. Often 2 or more seeds are joined together in a "seedball". Plants are wind cross pollinated.

Edible Uses

Spinach beet leaves are eaten as a pot herb. Young leaves of the garden beet are sometimes used similarly. The midribs of Swiss chard are eaten boiled while the whole leaf blades are eaten as spinach beet. In some parts of Africa, the whole leaf blades are usually prepared with the midribs as one dish. The leaves and stems of young plants are steamed briefly and eaten as a vegetable; older leaves and stems are stir-fried and have a flavour resembling taro leaves. The usually deep-red roots of garden beet can be baked, boiled, or steamed, and often served hot as a cooked vegetable or cold as a salad vegetable. They are also pickled. Raw beets are added to salads. A large proportion of the commercial production is processed into boiled and sterilised beets or into pickles. In Eastern Europe beet soup, such as cold borsch, is a popular dish. Yellow-coloured garden beets are grown on a very small scale for home consumption. The consumption of beets causes pink urine in some people. Jewish people traditionally eat beet on Rosh Hashana (New Year). Its Aramaic name סלקא sounds like the word for "remove" or "depart"; it is eaten with a prayer "that our enemies be removed".

Traditional Uses

The red tubers are eaten after cooking. The root is also dried and powdered and the flour mixed with barley or wheat. They can be pickled or fermented as beetroot juice. They are often boiled, sliced and served with vinegar. Tops or leaves are edible. They are cooked in soups and stews. The leaves are used for sarma in Turkey. They are rolled around a filling of rice or minced meat.

Medicinal Uses

The roots and leaves of the beet have been used in traditional medicine to treat a wide variety of ailments. Ancient Romans used beetroot as a treatment for fevers and constipation, amongst other ailments. Apicius in De re coquinaria gives five recipes for soups to be given as a laxative, three of which feature the root of beet. Platina recommended taking beetroot with garlic to nullify the effects of 'garlic-breath'. Beet greens and Swiss chard are both considered high oxalate foods which are implicated in the formation of kidney stones.

Distribution

It is a temperate climate plant. It is mainly in the highlands between 1150 and 2600 m altitude in the tropics. Plants are frost resistant. Plants grow best at 18-22°C. Temperatures below 10°C cause the plant to start its seeding phase. It is sensitive to acid soils but can grow in alkaline soils up to pH 10.

Where It Grows

Africa, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Britain, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Caucasus, Central America, Central Asia, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Georgia, Haiti, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Italy, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mediterranean, Middle East, Moldova, Myanmar, Niger, North Africa, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Serbia, Sicily, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Thailand, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. Normally the plants are planted in the final site because transplanting is difficult. When the small clump of seeds or seed ball are planted more than one seedling will result. Plants get a soft heart due to boron deficiency. This is treated with borax.

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ.

Other Information

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. Not often seen in Papua New Guinea.

Notes

Chemical composition: Fat = 5.75% (dry). Albumenoids = 13.92% (dry). Carbohydrates = 45.55% (dry). Fibre = 17.85% (dry). Ash = 16.93% (dry). Nitrogen - 2.23% (dry). Phosphoric acid = .50% (dry). Silicates = .86% (dry). Probably all Beta are one species and 2 main forms - Cicla - for leaves, and Contiva - for roots. Also put in the family Chenopodiaceae. It has anticancer properties.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Aitiace, Barba, Barbabietola, Bendjar, Beteraba, Betterave, Bit palang, Bittsu, Caiduong, Chaouender, Chukandar, Cu den, Divlja blitva, Giri, Hatrab, Hezab, Left m 'ta el-baqar, Palak, Palang sag, Palang, Palanki, Remolacha, Remolatsa, Rossa, Rote bete, Rote rube, Salachi, Selk, Sellak, Semlakh, Serj, Sildj, Silk el Belebcha, Silk, Table beet, Tian cai

References (57)

• Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 72
• Bernholt, H. et al, 2009, Plant species richness and diversity in urban and peri-urban gardens of Niamey, Niger. Agroforestry Systems 77:159-179
• Bianchini, F., Corbetta, F., and Pistoia, M., 1975, Fruits of the Earth. Cassell. p 80
• BOUQUET,
• Brouk, B., 1975, Plants Consumed by Man. Academic Press, London. p 85

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