What family do carrots and beets belong to? We classify vegetables

Everyone knows a plant like carrots. The family to which it belongs is very diverse. Parsnips, dill, celery, fennel ... You can't list them all. From our article you will learn about the features of the structure and growth of carrots, its beneficial properties and uses.

Characteristics of dicotyledonous plants

Let's start with the classification. Carrots are dicotyledonous plants. The characteristic features of this taxonomic group are the presence of two cotyledons in the embryo of the seed, reticular venation of leaves, a taproot system, and the presence of lateral educational tissue in the stem. Dicotyledons are a large and widespread group, including several dozen families.

What family does the carrot belong to

The dicotyledons also include this name they acquired by their characteristic inflorescence, which is called a complex umbrella. What is its peculiarity? Simple umbrellas radiate from the top of the common axis of such a structure. The bases of each of them are surrounded by bracts.

Parsley, celery, carrots ... What family do they represent? Of course, the Umbrella. They all have regular small bisexual flowers. Most often, their petals are white. But there are blue and yellow cups. The number of petals is five, the pistil is one. The calyx has the form of teeth or is not developed at all.

Leaves with pinnate venation, dissected plates. The fruit of the Umbelliferae is a bipartite achene. Once ripe, it splits in two.

Close relatives

In terms of structural features, Umbrella are very similar to Pink and Bean. They all have five-membered flowers. No exception and carrot. The Cruciferous family, by contrast, has four petals per flower. Otherwise, their characteristic features are very different. This applies primarily to the flower. So, in the Pinks it is correct, with a large number of stamens, and in the Legumes it looks like a moth or a boat with a sail and oars.

Variety of Celery

In addition to the well-known carrots, the Umbrella family is represented by a large range of medicinal, food and aromatic plants. The first group includes fennel and anise. These plants contain aromatic oils that are widely used in the pharmaceutical, perfume and soap industries. The cake left over from their processing is rich in proteins. Therefore, this product is used as livestock feed.

Parsley, parsnips, caraway seeds, dill, coriander should be referred to the spicy-aromatic Umbrella. Moreover, different parts have valuable properties in such plants: leaves, roots, fruits and seeds.

Among the Umbrella there are also poisonous representatives. For example, hemlock. This property is due to the presence of a number of alkaloids. Even in the days of Ancient Greece, this substance was used as an official poison, with which those who were condemned to death were killed. But since the time of Hippocrates, hemlock has been used as a medicinal plant.

Obvious benefit

Carrots, family which are also Umbrella, has not only pleasant taste. The chemical composition of this product makes it useful as well. Carrots are rich in vitamins of groups B, C, E. From trace elements sodium, potassium, magnesium and chlorine can be named, and from micro - iodine, copper, manganese and cobalt.

But this product is especially rich in vitamin A. Its deficiency causes such a disease as hemeralopia, or night blindness. A person suffering from it, poorly distinguishes the outlines of objects at dusk. And if he goes out of the light into the darkness, it will take a long time to get used to it.

Vitamin A is also of great importance for the mucous membrane of the eye. Its deficiency leads to atrophy of the lacrimal glands. The consequence of this is dryness of the cornea, its injury and a decrease in protective functions. This in turn can lead to the development of eye infections.

Economic value

For a long time, carrots occupy a leading place in terms of sown area among vegetable crops. For example, in Russia, out of 20% allocated for these plants, a useful root crop takes 15. Carrots are stored until the next harvest, which is also its advantage.

Valuable nutritional qualities are due to the high content of carbohydrates, in particular sucrose and glucose. Therefore, root vegetables are used in cooking both as an independent dish and as an addition to salads and vegetable stews.

Forage species serve as food for cattle, piglets and poultry. Carrots are also grown as a technical crop in order to obtain carotene in industry.

Biological features

Carrots are biennial plants. This means that in the first year it does not produce fruits and seeds. In summer, only root crops with rosettes of leaves appear. Thanks to the modified main root, the plant tolerates an unfavorable cold period, and forms a seed bush in the new spring. Thus, the root crop is a storage organ. The aerial part is represented by hollow stems of a rounded or ribbed shape, reaching a length of about 1.5 m. Leaves are compound, with a dissected plate.

In the spring of the second year of development, inflorescences develop - complex umbrellas. The outer flowers in them are larger. The fruits ripen closer to autumn. Each of them consists of two seeds that separate freely.

So, carrots belong to the Umbrella family. The characteristic features of this systematic group are a five-membered flower, an inflorescence with a complex umbrella and a fruit that, after ripening, splits into two parts. This family includes valuable food, medicinal and aromatic plants.

It belongs to the Umbrella family and is called a biennial plant - that is, in the first year only root crops and leaves emerge from the seeds, and a bush with seeds can only be expected in the second year.

What are carrots? It consists of a leafy rosette located on the surface of the earth, and a long root vegetable hiding in the ground - this is what we eat.

Carrot varieties.

There are several of the most popular carrot varieties that can be seen in stores. First of all, it is red carrot - a succulent plant, unpretentious in the choice of soil.

There is also white carrot - as it is easy to understand, white, very sweet, rich in starch and sugar.

Yellow carrot, which came from Asia, also has a sweet taste and is much wider and thicker than regular carrots.

All carrot varieties are good in their own way, and the choice depends only on the dishes in which you are going to use it.

You can find out more about growing carrots here.

Carrots: benefits and harms.

Useful properties of carrots.

Carrots are incredibly rich in a wide variety of vitamins - and C, and B, and K, and E. It contains a large amount of the substance carotene - which means that vitamin A can also be added to the list of vitamins.

Iron, cobalt, copper, magnesium and potassium, phosphorus - the content of all these (and not only these) substances can also boast carrot.

Eating carrots is beneficial for many diseases. These are visual impairments, renal and hepatic ailments, anemia and heart disease. Carrots have been shown to be beneficial for skin color and health.

Carrot juice is excellent at fighting high cholesterol levels, and carrot decoction is used as a natural diuretic.

Why are carrots harmful?

Despite all their usefulness, carrots can be harmful to the body. As mentioned, carrots are high in carotene. If you eat carrots too often and in large quantities, the body will no longer cope with the processing of this substance into vitamin A - and the skin will acquire a yellow-orange color, and the liver will begin to malfunction.

Also, carrots have a slight laxative effect. Therefore, it is useful for constipation, but if you have an upset stomach, then temporarily remove carrots from your diet.

Introduction to the quiz

Today we will talk about carrots. Everyone knows the orange princess of our gardens. Carrots are a healthy vegetable with high taste. Now guess the riddle: "What is the favorite food of hares and rabbits?" Well, of course, it's a carrot.

The Carrot quiz contains 10 questions. All questions are answered.

Quiz Creator: Iris Revue

1. What are carrots?
Answer: carrots are a vegetable, a garden plant, a root vegetable with an orange sweetish root

2. What riddles do you know about carrots?
Answer: The girl is sitting in a dungeon, and the scythe is in the street.
The red maiden is sitting in the cell, and the scythe is in the yard.

3. What is the Snowman's nose?
Answer: carrot

4. What are the nutrients found in carrots?
Answer: carotene, vitamins, ascorbic acid

5. What dishes can be made from carrots?
Answer: carrot juice, fresh and boiled carrot salad, carrot casserole, Ryzhik carrot cake, jelly, soufflé, caviar, puree soup

6. What proverbs do you know about carrots?
Answer: "Eat a carrot too, since there is no apple"
"Carrots thin the blood"

7. What verses about carrots do you know?
Answer: poem "Carrot juice" by Agnia Barto

“Weeds suppress
Pea bushes,
And the carrots are barely visible -
In general, things are bad. "

8. What family of plants does the carrot belong to?
Answer: to the umbrella family

9. Is the Carrot Festival celebrated in Russia?
Answer: not. But in a number of Russian cities in autumn, Carrot Festivals are held, where contests for the most original carrot dish are organized.

10. Did the ancient people know a culture like carrots?
Answer: yes, the ancient Greeks and Romans knew how to cultivate carrots

Carrot history

The homeland of carrots is Afghanistan. In ancient times, the color of carrots was very diverse: red, white, purple, yellow. In Ancient Greece and Rome, carrots were held in high esteem. The Greeks gave it the name "carrying love", believing that it softens human hearts and teaches people to be loving and patient.

In India, Japan and China, carrots have been cultivated as a garden plant since the 13th century. The usual orange carrot appeared only in the 16th century. thanks to the efforts of Dutch breeders, who have developed a new species in honor of the Dutch royal family.

Orange carrots appeared in England during the time of Elizabeth I. After some time, this culture became one of the most consumed vegetables. Secular ladies used it to make accessories to decorate their hats and dresses.

Carrots were brought to North America in 1607, and in 1814, Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, who was fond of plant breeding, bred 18 varieties of carrots.

❧ In medieval Germany, there was a belief that a bowl with steamed carrots should be taken to the forest. Allegedly, the gnomes were very fond of this dish and instead of carrots they left an ingot of gold.

❧ At the site of the excavation of the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, archaeologists have found images of carrot bunches on the walls of houses. And in ancient buildings near Bern in Switzerland, they found fossilized remains of carrots, it is assumed that they have lain there for about 3 ~ 4 thousand years.

In Russiacarrots have been cultivated since time immemorial. The ancient Slavs brought carrots as a gift to the deceased. Carrots were put into the boat with the deceased, then the boat was set on fire. It was believed that carrots would serve as food for the deceased in the next world. The mention of carrots is found in many ancient Russian monuments, for example, in "Domostroy". Not only in the villages there were vegetable gardens where carrots were grown. Such landings also existed in Moscow itself. Foreign guests wrote that there are many vegetable gardens with carrots around the capital.

China is currently the largest producer of carrots, Russia is in second place, and the United States is in third place.

Useful properties of carrots

Carrots have long become one of the favorite vegetables on our table. It has very few calories, but it brings significant benefits to the human body. Carrots are 87% water. The orange color of this vegetable is given by the enzyme beta-carotene, which is processed in our body and turns into vitamin A, which is extremely beneficial for eyesight.

For better absorption of vitamin A, fresh grated carrots are recommended to be consumed by adding sour cream or vegetable oil to it. Carrots also increase milk supply in nursing mothers, so they need it. Also, carrots aid in digestion.


IPNI

Carrots are a biennial plant (rarely one or perennial), in the first year of life it forms a rosette of leaves and a root crop, in the second year of life - a seed bush and seeds.

Widely distributed, including in Mediterranean countries, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and America.

In agriculture, sowing carrots are grown (cultivated carrots, considered or as an independent species Daucus sativus, or as a subspecies of wild carrots - Daucus carota subsp. sativus) is a biennial plant with a rough woody whitish or orange root. Cultivated carrots are subdivided into table and feed carrots.

Etymology

Word carrot dates back to prasslav. * mъrky, genus. case * mъrkъve, and its Latin generic name Daucus comes from the Greek word δαῦκος , denoting different umbrella plants. This word is raised to the verb δαίω (daio) spark off, which is probably due to the acrid taste of the fruit.

Botanical description

Meaning and application

In cooking

Root crops of cultivated carrots are used as food in raw and boiled form for preparing first and second courses, pies, marinades, canned food, etc. Carrots are used to produce food additive E160a and carrot juice.

In medicine and cosmetology

In medicine, carrots are used for hypo- and avitaminosis. Promotes epithelialization, activates intracellular redox processes, regulates carbohydrate metabolism.

The seeds are used to obtain drugs, for example, daucarin, which has an antispasmodic effect similar to the action of papaverine and kellin, dilates the coronary vessels; used for atherosclerosis, coronary insufficiency with symptoms of angina pectoris. Extracts and essential oils for cosmetics and aromatherapy are obtained from the seeds.

For a long time, it was believed that eating carrots improves vision. Despite the fact that carrots do contain vitamin A, which is necessary for the normal development of the visual system, the fact that impaired vision improves due to the use of carrots has not been confirmed. The reason for this misconception was the rumors actively spread by the British during World War II that they were feeding their Air Force pilots with carrots, and allegedly because of this, the British Air Force is so successful in its night flights and in hitting targets. In reality, however, the British government sought in this way to hide the fact of using radars for these purposes.

Classification

Taxonomy

Genus Carrot belongs to the family Umbrella ( Apiaceae) of the order Umbrella ( Apiales).

8 more families (according to the APG II System)

about 60 types

umbrella order

genus Carrot

department Flowering, or Angiosperms

family Umbrella

44 more orders of flowering plants (according to the APG II System)

more than 300 births

Views

According to database information The plant list, the genus includes 28 species:

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Notes

For the conventionality of specifying the class of dicotyledons as a superior taxon for the plant group described in this article, see the APG Systems section of the Dicotyledons article.
in the database Index Nominum Genericorum International Association for Plant Taxonomy (IAPT). (eng.)
Beketov A.N., Klyuss G.A. // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.
In accordance with the EU directive, carrots are both a fruit and a vegetable, which allows, for example, Portugal to legally produce and export carrot jam, which, according to EU rules, can only be made from fruits.
Etymological Dictionary of Slavic Languages \u200b\u200b// Ed. O. N. Trubacheva. - Issue. 20. - S. 247: * mürky.
Frisk H. Griechisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, Band I. - Heidelberg: Carl Winter's Universitätsbuchhandlung. - 1960 .-- S. 352.
Blinova K.F. and others. / Ed. K.F. Blinova, G.P. Yakovleva. - M .: Higher. shk., 1990 .-- S. 212 .-- ISBN 5-06-000085-0.
(English). The Plant List. Version 1.1. (2013). Retrieved October 1, 2016.

Literature

Carrots // Great Soviet Encyclopedia: [in 30 volumes] / Ch. ed. A.M. Prokhorov... - 3rd ed. - M. : Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969-1978.
Galeev N.A. Industrial cultivation of carrots. - Ufa: Bashk. book publishing house, 1985 .-- 136 p.

An excerpt characterizing Carrots

- You remember me? - Boris said calmly, with a pleasant smile. “My mother and I have come to the count, but it seems he is not quite well.
- Yes, it seems unwell. Everything worries him, - Pierre answered, trying to remember who this young man is.
Boris felt that Pierre did not recognize him, but did not consider it necessary to identify himself and, without feeling the slightest embarrassment, looked him straight in the eyes.
“Count Rostov asked you to come and dine with him today,” he said after a rather long and awkward silence for Pierre.
- AND! Count Rostov! - said Pierre happily. - So you are his son, Ilya. I, you can imagine, did not recognize you at first. Remember how we went to Vorobyovy Gory with m me Jacquot ... [Madame Jaco ...] a long time ago.
“You are mistaken,” Boris said slowly, with a bold and somewhat mocking smile. - I am Boris, the son of Princess Anna Mikhailovna Drubetskaya. Rostov's father's name is Ilya, and his son's is Nikolai. And I didn't know any Jacquot.
Pierre waved his arms and head as if mosquitoes or bees had attacked him.
- Oh, what is it! I have confused everything. There are so many relatives in Moscow! You are Boris ... yes. Well, here we are with you and agreed. Well, what do you think of the Boulogne expedition? After all, the British will have a bad time if only Napoleon crossed the canal? I think the expedition is very possible. Villeneuve would not fail!
Boris did not know anything about the Boulogne expedition, he did not read the newspapers and for the first time he heard about Villeneuve.
“Here in Moscow we are more occupied with dinners and gossip than with politics,” he said in his calm, mocking tone. - I don’t know anything about it and don’t think. Moscow is busy with gossip most of all, - he continued. “Now they are talking about you and the count.
Pierre smiled his kind smile, as if afraid for his interlocutor, lest he say something that he would regret. But Boris spoke distinctly, clearly and dryly, looking directly into Pierre's eyes.
“Moscow has nothing else to do but gossip,” he continued. - Everyone is busy with those to whom the count will leave his fortune, although maybe he will outlive us all, which I sincerely wish ...
- Yes, it's all very difficult, - Pierre took in, - it's very difficult. - Pierre was still afraid that this officer would inadvertently fall into an awkward conversation for himself.
“And you must think,” said Boris, blushing slightly, but without changing his voice or posture, “you must think that everyone is busy only with getting something from the rich man.
"It is," thought Pierre.
- And I just want to tell you, in order to avoid misunderstandings, that you would be very mistaken if you count me and my mother among these people. We are very poor, but at least I speak for myself: precisely because your father is rich, I do not consider myself to be his relative, and neither I nor my mother will ever ask for anything or accept anything from him.
For a long time Pierre could not understand, but when he did, he jumped up from the sofa, grabbed Boris by the hand from below with his characteristic swiftness and awkwardness, and, flushing much more than Boris, began to speak with a mixed feeling of shame and annoyance.
- This is strange! I really ... and who else could think ... I very much know ...
But Boris again interrupted him:
- I'm glad I said everything. Maybe it’s unpleasant for you, excuse me, ”he said, calming Pierre, instead of being soothed by him,“ but I hope I did not offend you. I have a rule to say everything directly ... How can I convey? Will you come to dine with the Rostovs?
And Boris, apparently having dumped a heavy duty from himself, having himself emerged from an awkward position and putting someone else in it, became again completely pleasant.
“No, listen,” said Pierre, calming down. - You are an amazing person. What you just said is very good, very good. Of course you don't know me. We have not seen each other for so long ... as children ... You can assume in me ... I understand you, I understand very much. I wouldn't do it, I would have lacked the spirit, but it's wonderful. I am very glad to have met you. It’s strange, ”he added, after a pause and smiling,“ what you supposed in me! He laughed. - Well, what then? We will get to know you better. You are welcome. - He shook hands with Boris. - You know, I have never been to the count. He did not call me ... I feel sorry for him as a person ... But what to do?
- And you think that Napoleon will have time to ferry the army? Boris asked, smiling.
Pierre realized that Boris wanted to change the conversation, and, agreeing with him, began to outline the advantages and disadvantages of the Boulogne enterprise.
A footman came to summon Boris to the princess. The princess was leaving. Pierre promised to come to dinner in order to get closer to Boris, firmly shook his hand, affectionately looking into his eyes through his glasses ... After his departure, Pierre walked around the room for a long time, no longer piercing an invisible enemy with his sword, but smiling at the sweet memory of this, smart and firm young man.
As it happens in his first youth and especially in a lonely situation, he felt an unreasonable tenderness for this young man and promised himself to make friends with him.
Prince Vasily saw off the princess. The princess held a handkerchief to her eyes, and her face was in tears.
- This is terrible! awful! - she said, - but no matter what it costs me, I will fulfill my duty. I will come to sleep. You can't leave him like that. Every minute is precious. I don't understand why the princesses are hesitating. Maybe God will help me find a way to cook it! ... Adieu, mon prince, que le bon Dieu vous soutienne ... [Farewell, prince, may God support you.]
- Adieu, ma bonne, [Farewell, my dear,] - answered Prince Vasily, turning away from her.
“Oh, he's in a terrible situation,” the mother said to her son as they got into the carriage again. - He hardly recognizes anyone.
- I do not understand, mamma, what is his relationship with Pierre? The son asked.
- Will tell everything, my friend; our fate depends on him ...
- But why do you think that he will leave anything to us?
- Ah, my friend! He is so rich and we are so poor!
“Well, that’s not a good enough reason, mamma.
- Oh my god! Oh my God! How bad he is! - exclaimed the mother.

When Anna Mikhailovna left with her son to Count Kirill Vladimirovich Bezukhoy, Countess Rostova sat alone for a long time, putting a handkerchief to her eyes. Finally, she called.
“What are you, dear,” she said angrily to the girl who had kept herself waiting for several minutes. - Do you want to serve, or what? So I'll find you a place.
The countess was upset by the grief and humiliating poverty of her friend, and therefore was out of sorts, which was always expressed in her by the name of the maid "sweetheart" and "you."
“I'm sorry,” said the maid.
- Ask the count for me.
The count, waddling, approached his wife with a somewhat guilty look, as always.
- Well, Countess! What saute au madere of hazel grouses will be, ma chere! I tried; It was not for nothing that I gave a thousand rubles for Taraska. Worth it!
He sat down beside his wife, throwing his brave hands on his knees and ruffling his gray hair.
- What do you want, Countess?
- That's what, my friend, - what is it you got soiled here? She said, pointing to the vest. “That's sote, right,” she added, smiling. - Here's what, count: I need money.
Her face became sad.
- Ah, countess! ...
And the count fussed, taking out his wallet.
- I need a lot, Count, I need five hundred rubles.
And she, taking out a cambric handkerchief, rubbed her husband's vest with it.