Edible: Roots, Leaves, Vegetable
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.
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.
Common Names: 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
Synonyms:
Probably now Beta vulgaris Crassa group;
Beta altissima Steud.;
Beta brasiliensis Voss, nom. inval.;
Beta vulgaris cv. conditiva Alef.;
Beta vulgaris cv. saccharifera Alef.;
Beta vulgaris var. altissima Doll;
Beta vulgaris var. crassa Alef.;