Overview
|
Vulnerable |
|
Interesting Facts
Common Names
Common Names in English:
Beet
Description
Family Chenopodiaceae
Herbs annual
, subshrubs
, or shrubs
, rarely perennial
herbs or small trees
. Stems and branches sometimes jointed
(articulate
) ; indumentum of vesicular hairs
(furfuraceous
or farinose
), ramified (dendroid), stellate
, rarely of glandular
hairs, or plants
glabrous
. Leaves alternate or opposite, exstipulate
, petiolate
or sessile; leaf blade
flattened, terete
, semiterete, or in some species reduced to scales
. Flowers monochlamydeous
, bisexual
or unisexual
(plants monoecious or dioecious, rarely polygamous) ; bracteate
or ebracteate
. Bractlets
(if present) 1 or 2, lanceolate, navicular
, or scale-like. Perianth membranous, herbaceous, or succulent, (1-) 3-5-parted; segments imbricate, rarely in 2 series, often enlarged and hardened in fruit, or with winged
, acicular
, or tuberculate
appendages
abaxially, seldom unmodified (in tribe
Atripliceae female flowers without or with poorly developed perianth borne between 2 specialized bracts or at base
of a bract) . Stamens shorter than or equaling perianth segments and arranged opposite them; filaments
subulate
or linear
, united
at base and usually forming a hypogynous disk, sometimes with interstaminal lobes
; anthers
dorsifixed
, incumbent
in bud, 2-locular, extrorse
, or dehiscent
by lateral
, longitudinal
slits, obtuse
or appendaged at apex. Ovary superior, ovoid
or globose
, of 2-5 carpels, unilocular
; ovule 1, campylotropous; style terminal
, usually short, with 2(-5) filiform
or subulate stigmas, rarely capitate, papillose
, or hairy
on one side or throughout. Fruit a utricle, rarely a pyxidium (dehiscent capsule) ; pericarp membranous, leathery, or fleshy
, adnate
or appressed
to seed. Seed horizontal, vertical
, or oblique
, compressed
globose, lenticular
, reniform
, or obliquely ovoid; testa crustaceous
, leathery, membranous, or succulent; embryo annular
, semi-annular, or spiral
, with narrow cotyledons; endosperm much reduced or absent; perisperm
abundant or absent.
Probably about 100 genera and 1400 species (depending on taxonomic
opinions
) : mainly in arid
areas, deserts, and coastal and saline habitats
of N and S Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North and South America; 42 genera (two endemic, two introduced
) and 190 species (21 endemic, six introduced) in China.
Many species of Chenopodiaceae are adapted to, and are major components
of, arid or ruderal
environments. They are often intimately involved with the daily life of people. For example, Beta vulgaris is one of the most important sources for sugar
; Chenopodium quinoa is a new high-protein crop
; Spinacia oleracea and Beta vulgaris are excellent vegetables; Dysphania ambrosioides and Salsola collina are used medicinally; seeds of Agriophyllum squarrosum are called "sand-rice" locally and are edible; seeds of Corispermum declinatum are used for making gin; the ash of Halogeton arachnoideus and some species of Salsola contains soda which is used in noodle-making; and Anabasis aphylla can be used as an insecticide
. Many species are important as animal forage
in desert, semidesert, and steppe
regions, and some species make good windbreaks and soil binders. Haloxylon ammodendron has been used extensively in biological reconditioning of the desert.[1]
Genus Beta
Herbs, annual
, biennial, or perennial
, often with fleshy
, thickened roots
, glabrous
throughout. Stems erect
or procumbent
, not jointed
, not armed
, not fleshy. Leaves alternate, petiolate
or sessile; blade
ovate-cordate to rhombic-cuneate, margins
± entire, apex obtuse
. Inflorescences spikelike cymes or glomerules
, ebracteate
at least in distal 1/2. Flowers bisexual
, bracteate
; perianth segments 3-5, distinct
, sometimes petaloid
, rounded
or keeled
abaxially, wings and spines absent; stamens 5; ovary semi-inferior; stigmas usually 2-3(-5), connate
basally. Fruiting structures achenes, connate with receptacle, often enclosed by swollen perianth. Seeds horizontal, orbicular
or reniform
; seed coat
dark brown, smooth
; embryo ± annular
, perisperm
copious
. x = 9.
Species ca.
6: introduced
; Eurasia
.
Beta is widely distributed and is known especially for the economically important Beta vulgaris subsp.
vulgaris, the commonly cultivated beet. The forms of the beets introduced in North America and established
in the wild occupy both inland and maritime habitats
.
The taxonomy of the genus is complicated by a long history of cultivation in which selective breeding
has caused a bewildering array of diverse
morphologies. In looking at the differences between the two forms of Beta that occasionally become established in waste
places in North America, it is tempting to segregate
the clearly distinct forms as different species. However, a number of researchers documenting the variation
within the complex
(B
. V. Ford-Lloyd and J. T. Williams 1975; H. Van Kijk and B. Desplanque 1999) agree that the range
of variation stretches along a continuum between the two extreme types defined by the maritima and vulgaris groups. The morphological lineage
assigned here to subsp. maritima is usually considered ancestral to the cultivated forms of beet included
within subsp. vulgaris.[2]
Habitat
Ecology:
B
.
nana is a high altitude
montane
species which grows on limestone in areas of short, open
turf
, often close to snow patches (Strid
1995).
It is a perennial
hermaphrodite and a self-pollinating inbreeder,
which flowers from June to August (Strid 1995).
It is an inconspicuous diploid (Frantzn and
Gustavsson 1983)
plant species, with a small rosette of leaves approximately 1020
cm in diameter, depending on the fertility
of the soil. The plant
is said to be self-fertile
, producing few seed stalks
with 1025
flowers per spike between June and August. The monogerm seedballs
dehisce
to the ground
in the vicinity of the seed plant while still
green.
The general habitat
for B. nana is in
closed
or open depressions
with relatively moist soil above 1800
m
asl. The climate at this altitude is cool and moist because
clouds often build up around the mountains. The subpopulations
are
mainly found on ranges
facing east or northeast where temperatures
are lower during the summer afternoons. Plants
also grow in crevices
between rocks and in disturbed
areas, such as rough tracks or severely
grazed open plant communities. The prostrate
growth habit protects
the head
of the storage root
from being damaged by grazing animals
(Dale
1980, 1981;
Frese et al.
2009).
However, it is possible that a certain degree
of grazing may keep
the associated flora
short, thereby promoting the survival of the
species. Dale (1980) noted that germination of the seed has proved
difficult and assumed that the extremes of temperatures in the natural
habitat, leaching of inhibitors, as well as enzymes
in the gut
of
animals, may all play a part in successful germination.
[3].
List of Habitats:
- 6 Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs , mountain peaks) [more info]
Taxonomy
- Domain:
Eukaryota
(
)
- Whittaker & Margulis,1978
- eukaryotes
- Kingdom:
Plantae
(
)
- Haeckel, 1866
- Plants
- Subkingdom:
Viridaeplantae
(
)
- Cavalier-Smith, 1981
- Phylum:
Tracheophyta
(
)
- Sinnott, 1935 Ex Cavalier-Smith, 1998
- Vascular Plants
- Subphylum:
Euphyllophytina
(
)
- Infraphylum:
Radiatopses
(
)
- Kenrick & Crane, 1997
- Class:
Magnoliopsida
(
)
- Brongniart, 1843
- Dicotyledons
- Subclass:
Caryophyllidae
(
)
- Takhtajan, 1967
- Superorder:
Caryophyllanae
(
)
- Takhtajan, 1967
- Order:
Caryophyllales
(
)
- Perleb, 1826
- Suborder:
Chenopodiineae
(
)
- Family:
Chenopodiaceae
(
)
- Ventenat, 1799
- chnopodes, goosefoot
- Subfamily:
Chenopodioideae
(
)
- Subfamily:
Chenopodioideae
(
- Family:
Chenopodiaceae
(
- Suborder:
Chenopodiineae
(
- Order:
Caryophyllales
(
- Superorder:
Caryophyllanae
(
- Subclass:
Caryophyllidae
(
- Class:
Magnoliopsida
(
- Infraphylum:
Radiatopses
(
- Subphylum:
Euphyllophytina
(
- Phylum:
Tracheophyta
(
- Subkingdom:
Viridaeplantae
(
- Kingdom:
Plantae
(
Notes
Publishing author
: Boiss. & Heldr. Publication
: Diagn. Pl. Orient.
ser. 1, 7: 82 1846 [Jul-Oct 1846]
Name
Status: Accepted Name
.
Last scrutiny: 15-Mar-2000
Beta nana Boiss. & Heldr.
is a secondary wild relative of cultivated beets, B
.
vulgaris L. ssp.
vulgaris
(leaf, garden, fodder
and sugar
beet groups) (classified in
section
Nanae Ulbrich) (Frese 2004).
Kadereit et
al. (2006) analysed a representative sample
of Beta
species with 29 nuclear
ribosomal ITS1 sequences, as well
as four representatives of Hablitzieae as an outgroup
and found B.
nana to be closely related to species in Beta
section Corollinae. They suggested merging Beta
section Nanae into section Corollinae.[3].
Similar Species
Members of the genus Beta
ZipcodeZoo has pages for 144 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus. Here are just 100 of them:
B. adanensis (Beet) · B. atriplicifolia (Beet) · B. juncea var. japonica 'Mustard Lettuce' (Mustard) · B. lomatogona (Beet) · B. nana (Beet) · B. oleracea var. acephala 'Blue Armor' (Kale) · B. patellaris (Beet) · B. patula (Beet) · B. procumbens (Cultivated Beet) · B. trigyna (Beet) · B. trojana (Trojan Beet) · B. vulgaris (Beet) · B. vulgaris cicla (Chard) · B. vulgaris macrocarpa (Common Beet) · B. vulgaris maritima (Spinach Beet (As B Bengalensis - India)) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Argentata' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Bright Lights' (Seakale Beet) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Bright Yellow' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Broadstem Green' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Canary' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Cardinal' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Charlotte' (Ruby Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Costa Bianca' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Flamingo' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Fordhook Giant' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'French' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Golden Sunrise' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Japanese' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Large White Ribbed' (Seakale Beet) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Leaf Beet' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Liscia Verde Da Taglio' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Lucullus' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Lyons' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Magenta Sunset' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Oriole' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Parrot' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Pink Passion' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Rainbow' (Seakale Beet) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Rhubarb Chard' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Ruby Red' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Scarlet Charlotte' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Sibella' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Silverado' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Virgo' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Vulcan' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'White King' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'White Silver 2' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. cicla 'Witerbi Mangold' (Swiss Chard) · B. vulgaris var. conditiva (Beetroot) · B. vulgaris vulgaris (Yellow-Fleshed Beetroot) · B. vulgaris vulgaris var. vulgaris (Sicilian Broad-Rib Beet) · B. vulgaris vulgaris 'Arcangeli' (Sea Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Action' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Albina Vereduna' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Albino' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Alvro Mono' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Always Tender' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Asgrow Wonder' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Baby Ball' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Baby Gladiator' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Big Top' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Bikores' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Blankoma White' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Bloody Mary' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Bolivar' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Boltardy' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Bonel' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Boro' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Bull's Blood' (Bull's Blood Giant Ornamental Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Burpee's Golden' (Burpee's Golden Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Burpee's White' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Centurion' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Chariot' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Cheltenham Green Top' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Chicago Red' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Chioggia' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Crosby's Extra Early Egyptian' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Cylindra' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Detroit' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Detroit 2 - Nero' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Detroit Dark Red' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Detroit Supreme' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Dewings Early Blood Turnip' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Early Egyptian' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Early Wonder' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Egyptian Flat Tf 68' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Excalibur' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'First Crop' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Formanova' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Forono' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Globe 2' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Golden' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Golden Surprise' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Green Top Bunching' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Improved Blood Turnip' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Kestrel' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Lalraj' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Little Chicago' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Lutz Green Leaf' (Beet) · B. vulgaris 'Macgregor's Favourite' (Beet)
More Info
- Search for Pictures: images.google.com
- Search for Scholarly Articles: Google Scholar
- Search using Scientific Name and Vernacular Names: All the Web | AltaVista Canada | AltaVista | Excite | Google | HotBot | Lycos
- Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CAL | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books
Further Reading
- 1997 IUCN red list of threatened plants Cambridge: IUCN, World Conservation Union, 1998 url p. 135.
- Biosphere Reserves, Compilation 4, October 1986: programme on man and the biosphere (MAB) IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre url p. 193.
- List of rare, threatened and endemic plants in Europe (1982 edition) Council of Europe url p. 205, p. 84.
- Preliminary draft list of plant species for inclusion in a 'Responsibility List' of European plants WCMC url p. 23.
- The Gaelic names of plants (Scottish, Irish, and Manx), collected and arranged in scientific order, with notes on their etymology, uses, plant superstitions, etc., among the Celts, with copious Gaeli Glasgow, J. Mackay, 1900. url .
- The botanic gardens list of rare and threatened species IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre url p. 12.
- Kung Hsien-wu, Chu Ge-lin, C. P. Tsien Cho-po, Ma Cheng-gung & Li An-jen. 1979. Chenopodiaceae. In: Kung Hsien-wu & C. P. Tsien Cho-po, eds., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 25(2): 1â194.
- Ford-Lloyd, B. V. and J. T. Williams. 1975. A revision of Beta section Vulgares (Chenopodiaceae), with new light on the origin of cultivated herbs. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 71: 89-102.
Notes
Contributors
- Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-present. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Zwaag, The Netherlands. Accessed January 10, 2012.
- Frese, L., Maxted, N. & Economou, G. 2011. Beta nana. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloadedon 30January2012.
- IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. . Downloaded on January 28, 2012.
Data Sources
Accessed through GBIF Data Portal December 01, 2007:
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research
- , IPK Genebank
- The Swedish Museum of Natural History
- , Lund Botanical Museum
Identifiers
- Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 1
- Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: ITS-506574
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 13738016
- Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:164481-1
- GRIN Nomen Number: 7053
- Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 506574
- International Plant Names Index (IPNI) ID: 164481-1
- IUCN ID: 195051
- U.S.D.A. Plant Symbol: BENA2
- Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 25174
Footnotes
- Gelin Zhu, Sergei L. Mosyakin & Steven E. Clemants "Chenopodiaceae". in Flora of China Vol. 5 Page 352. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
- Leila M. Shultz "Beta". in Flora of North America Vol. 4 Page 258, 261, 266. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
- Frese, L., Maxted, N. & Economou, G. 2011. Beta nana. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 30 January 2012. [back]
