Sea beet

The sea beet (Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima) is a member of the family Chenopodiaceae, and is the wild ancestor of common vegetables such as beetroot, sugar beet, and Swiss chard. Its leaves have a pleasant texture and taste when served raw or cooked.

It is a perennial plant which grows up to 1.2 m, and flowers in the summer. Its flowers are hermaphroditic, and wind-pollinated. It lives in the wild along some shores in Great Britain. It requires moist, well-drained soils, and does not tolerate shade.

It is a maritime plant able to tolerate relatively high levels of sodium in its environment.