Beta vulgaris
Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris
beet, chard, common beet, garden beet, sea beet, sugar beet
beet, mangel-wurzel, spinach chard, sugar beet, swiss cha rd
fibrous or fleshy.
erect, distally branched, 60–120(–200) cm.
petiole 1/2–2/3 or equaling blade length;
blade dark red to green, usually with pronounced midrib, somewhat fleshy.
petiole 1/2–1/3 blade length;
blade broadly lanceolate to cordate;
basal leaf blade 10–20(–27) × 4.5–8(–18) cm;
cauline leaves reduced proximally, blade rhombic to narrowly lanceolate.
cymes, 1–8-flowered, interrupted towards base.
urn-shaped;
segments 3–5 × 2–3 mm;
receptacle pelviform.
5–11 per cluster, 3–5 mm.
1.5–2 mm.
2–8-flowered.
= 18.
Beta vulgaris
Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris
Subspecies ca. 3 (2 in the flora).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Subspecies vulgaris is valued as a source of sugar, a domestic vegetable, and food for livestock. Beets will grow in alkaline soils and tolerate arid conditions, making them an especially valuable crop in marginal lands. Aristotle referred to the use of red greens from beets ca. 350 b.c.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Basal leaves usually longer than 10 cm; stems erect; cymes 2-8-flowered; roots swollen, fleshy | subsp. vulgaris |
1. Basal leaves shorter than 10 cm; stems procumbent to erect; cymes 1-3-flowered; roots fibrous to ± swollen, not fleshy | subsp. maritima |
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