Beta is a genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 in the flowering plant

Flowering plant

The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...

 family Amaranthaceae

Amaranthaceae

The flowering plant family Amaranthaceae, the Amaranth family, contains about 176 genera and 2,400 species.- Description :Most of these species are herbs or subshrubs; very few are trees or climbers. Some species are succulent....

. The best known member is the common Beet

Beet

The beet is a plant in the Chenopodiaceae family which is now included in Amaranthaceae family. It is best known in its numerous cultivated varieties, the most well known of which is the purple root vegetable known as the beetroot or garden beet...

, Beta vulgaris, but several other species are recognised. Almost all have the common name of "Beet

Beet

The beet is a plant in the Chenopodiaceae family which is now included in Amaranthaceae family. It is best known in its numerous cultivated varieties, the most well known of which is the purple root vegetable known as the beetroot or garden beet...

".

Wild Beta species can be found throughout the Mediterranean coastline, the Atlantic coast of Europe (from Greece to Syria), the Near East, and parts of Asia including India. This genus consists of biennial or rarely perennial species. Cultivated forms are members of Beta vulgaris. Those grown for roots are known generally as beets, and those for their leaves are chards. Leaves are small and glossly to large and crinkly or puckered. Small flowers are followed by knobbly seeds in profusion. Leaves of both forms are edible.

In cultivation, the plants prefer light well-drained soil, not too rich and adequate water. Some can be propagated from seed.

Species include

Beta adanensis

Beta altissima

Beta atriplicifolia

Beta bengalensis

Beta bourgaei

Beta brasiliensis

Beta campanulata

Beta chilensis

Beta cicla

Beta corolliflora

Beta intermedia

Beta lomatogona

Beta macrocarpa

Beta macrorhiza

Beta maritima

Beta nana

Beta orientalis

Beta palonga

Beta patellaris

Beta patula

Beta perennis

Beta procumbens

Beta trigyna

Beta trojana

Beta vulgaris

Beta webbiana