供蔬食的菾菜是藜科,甜菜属,一二年生草本植物的甜菜(Beta　vuharis L.)的变种。其中包括以嫩叶供食的叶用甜菜:叶菾菜(var.cicla L.)以及以肉质很供食的根用甜菜:根菾菜(var.rapacea　Koch)。甜菜及其变种叶菾菜和根菾菜原产于欧洲南部及地中海沿岸。叶菾菜的拉丁学名中的种加 Brasenia schreberi for vegetables is a variety of beet (Beta vuharis L.) of the genus Chenopodiaceae, the genus Beet, the biennial herb. Among them are leaf beets that are fed on young leaves: var. Cicla L. and root beet: var. Rapacacea Koch, which is very meaty. Beets and their varieties of leafy vegetables and root vegetables are native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean coast. Leafy vegetables Latin name in the species plus