Toothed begonia
Begonia serratipetala
Family: Begoniaceae
What it is like
A herb. It grows 45 cm tall. The stems are erect and slender and branched. They are purple red with rusty hairs. The leaves are oval and unequal on opposite sides. They are 10 cm long and crinkled with lobes along the side. They taper to the tip and are heart shaped at the base. There are double teeth along the edge. They are glossy bronze green above with small raised pink dots. They are hairy and purple-red underneath. The flowers are pale pink. The fruit are oval red capsules. There are many seeds.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in rainforests and up to 75 m above sea level or higher.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Indonesia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea (country/location of origin), SE Asia
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Leaves, stems
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds or by leaf or stem cuttings.
Its other names
Local names
Begonia gergaji, Teletele