Binomial name - Beta vulgaris

Colour - Beetroot has a wide range of colours from purple - pink and reddish -orange to a brownish tone.

Botanical Description : The beetroot , commonly called the beet is a biennial plant that produces seeds in the second year of growth and is usually grown as an annual for the fleshy root and young leaves.

Etymology - The beet is derived from the wild beet or sea beet which grows on the coasts of Eurasia.

Nutritional Aspects- 1 cup of raw beets contains: 58 Calories 2g Protein 13g Carbohydrate 0g Total Fat 4g Fiber 9g Sugars 106mg sodium

This dyes are been used for industrial red food colorants for improving the color of sauces and tomato paste , jams and jellies , desserts and breakfast cereals.

In making of beetroot wine , beetroot crisps , and colouring for pasta.

Used in making natural clothing dye

Used as a natural hair dye at home

There are plans in the United Kingdom by BP & Associated British Foods to produce biobutanol an alternative fuel from surpluses of agriculture sugar beets.

Pickled beets are popular , not only because they taste good, but the pigment stabilizes in acidic conditions such as vinegar and the beets retain their bright red color.

Beets are believed to originate along the coats of the Mediterranean (sea beets) and were first cultivated for their edible leaves.