Betalamic acid, the probable key intermediate in the biogenesis of all betalains, has been detected for the first time as a natural product in numerous species of plants belonging to families of the Order Centrospermae, has been obtained directly from the cleavage of the red beet pigment betanin, and has been characterized by the formation of betanidin when mixed with synthetic cyclodopa, and indicaxanthin on reaction with L-proline.