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CHENOPODIACEyE 



the wild sea-beet of our coasts {B. mariiima L.) in being 

 biennial in habit and in having straigliter upright flowering 

 stems, and a more well-defined uniform tap root. These 

 cultivated forms most probably originated from a variety grow- 

 ing wild on the western coasts of the Mediterranean and on 

 the Canary Isles, and known as B. vulgaris L., var. maritima 

 Koch. Whether this plant is really distinct, or is itself a variety 

 ol Beta maritima L., is not certain. 



Of \h& garden forms little can here be said. Their roots are 

 mostly of conical or napiform shape, with deep crimson tender 



Fig. log. — I. Mangel 'seed' (fruit) germinating, a Primary roots 

 from two separate embryos. 



2. True seed separated from i. 



3. Longitudinal section of 2. a Root ; b cotyledons ; c hypocoty! ; 

 X endosperm. 



flesh, which is rich in sugar. A variety known as Chard Beet 

 (B. vulgaris L., var. Cida L.) is sometimes cultivated for the 

 broad pale fleshy midribs of its leaves, which are cooked and 

 eaten like sea-kale. 



4. Mangel Wurzel or Field Beet. — Mangel Wurzel is the Ger- 

 man for 'Root of Scarcity^ by which phrase this plant was 

 known about the time of its introduction into England as a 

 field crop about loo years ago. 



This appellation appears to have arisen from the fact that 

 it often produces a great crop when other plants fail. It 



