Mangelwurzel or mangold wurzel (Beta vulgaris), is a root vegetable of the family Chenopodiaceae, genus Beta (the beets). Its large white or yellow swollen roots were developed in the 1700's for feeding livestock. Being too coarse for table use, cattle are known to thrive excellently upon this plant, both its leaves and roots providing a nutritious food. The name Mangel-wurzel comes from the German mangel, "beet", and wurzel, "root".
Mangelwurzel has a history in England of being used for sport (mangold hurling), for celebration (mangold lanterns at punkie night in Somerset) and for animal fodder. It is also the source of the name for the English folk/pop/comedy musical group Adge Cutler and the Wurzels (now known simply as "The Wurzels" since the death of Adge Cutler in the 1970s).
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