It is a biannual (unconfirmed biennial) herbaceous plant grown as annual, with large leaves, bright green and veined. It is a variety of Beta vulgar, as beet or beetroot, sugar beet and fodder beet. The petioles of the leaves (called pence) are white, yellow or red, depending on the variety. Chard epidermis microscopy image. It can consume the entire plant, including leaf feathers, if collected when they are small (less than 20 cm), but if they grow larger it is better to discard the penca and tend to sour. It cooks the same as the spinach, of which it is relative. Very tender plants can be eaten raw in salads.