Sea Beet
About
A common name for Beta vulgaris, an annual or hardy biennial. This is the species from which the modern vegetables beets, chard, and sugar beets are derived. This is the ancestor of the garden beetroot and is also related to spinach. In the second year of growth, it produces a 4-foot stem with elongated oval leaves. The leathery leaves are dark green and glossy, and the stems are often reddish. The flower spikes are long and wavy and appear from July to September.It is a maritime plant able to tolerate relatively high levels of sodium in its environment. Besides being a source of
genetic resistance to sugar beet diseases such as cercospora and rhizomania, the sea beet is also arousing great interest as possible source of resistance to abiotic stress
