The beetroot is the taproot portion of the beet plant, also known in North America as the table beet, garden beet, red or golden beet, or informally simply as the beet. It is any of the cultivated varieties of beet (Beta vulgaris) grown for their edible taproots, especially B. vulgaris L. subsp. conditiva and their greens. They are among the most commonly encountered varieties in North America, Central America and Europe.
Other than as a food, its uses include food coloring, improving the effectiveness of winter road salt, beet pulp as an animal fodder, table sugar, and as a medicinal plant.
