Sea beet
Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima

Family: Amaranthaceae

What it is like

A low, fleshy herb. It can grow each year from seed or last a few years. The stems are often sprawling and reddish. The leaves are oval or sword shaped. They can have a heart shaped base and are leathery and do not have teeth. The flowers are small and green to purple. They are in leafy clusters on long spikes. The fruit become corky and fuse together.

Probably all Beta are one species and 2 main forms - Cicla - for leaves, and Contiva - for roots. Also put in the family Chenopodiaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in rocky coastal sites. It is often on cliffs and salt marshes. Tasmania Herbarium. It suits hardiness zone 7.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Balkans, Belgium, Bosnia, Britain, Bulgaria, Caucasus, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt - Sinai, Egypt, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, Netherlands, North Africa, Portugal - Azores, Madeira Islands, North Africa, Portugal, Scandinavia, Sicily, Slovenia, South America, Spain - Canary Islands, Spain, Syria, Sweden, Tasmania, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay, USA, Yugoslavia

How it is used for food

The leaves are boiled and used in vegetable soups and stews. The young tender leaves are used in salads. The root is used in soup. It is also dried and crushed and sifted and the flour mixed with barley or wheat flour.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Acelga de campo, Acelgas bordes, Acelgas de Dios, Acelguilla, Bietola selvatica, Divlja blitva, Giri,Iet', Silq barri, Zarchi

Synonyms

Beta atriplicifolia Rouy; Beta bengalensis Roxb.; Beta maritima L.; Beta maritima subsp. danica Krassochkin; Beta maritima var. atriplicifolia (Rouy) Krassochkin; Beta maritima var. erecta Krassochkin; Beta maritima var. prostrata Krassochkin; Beta orientalis Roth; Beta palonga R. K. Basu & K. K. Mukh.; Beta perennis (L.) Freyn; Beta trojana Pamukc. ex Aellen; Beta vulgaris subsp. lomatogonoides Aellen; Beta vulgaris subsp. orientalis (Roth) Aellen; Beta vulgaris subsp. provulgaris Ford-Lloyd & J. T. Williams; Beta vulgaris var. atriplicifolia (Rouy) Krassochkin; Beta vulgaris var. erecta (Krassochkin) Krassochkin; Beta vulgaris var. foliosa Aellen; Beta vulgaris var. glabra (Delile) Aellen; Beta vulgaris var. grisea Aellen; Beta vulgaris var. maritima (L.) Moq.; Beta vulgaris var. orientalis (Roth) Moq.; Beta vulgaris var. perennis L.; Beta vulgaris var. pilosa (Delile) Aellen; Beta vulgaris var. prostrata (Krassochkin) Krassochkin; Beta vulgaris var. trojana (Pamukc.) Ford-Lloyd & J. T. Williams