Bergia capensis L.

Bergia species are annual, perennial or undershrubs, stem ascending, erect or decumbent, branched diffusely, glabrous or pubescent, rooting at nodes. Leaves simple, opposite, pseudo whorled, ovate-lanceolate to elliptic-oblong, margin entire or minutely serrate, apex acute to acuminate, glabrous or pubescent, petiole short, stipulate, margins denticulate or ciliate, usually peristent. Inflorescence solitary or fascicled, axillary or terminal. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, usually pentamerous, pedicel short or subsessile, bracteates, sepals 3-5, free, ovate-oblong, united at the base, margins membranous, apex acute or subacute, keeled, petals 3-5, free, pink, white or purple, longer than the sepals, laneolate to ovate-oblong, margin entire or membranous. Stamens 5-10, usually in 2 series, filaments filiform, dilated at the base, anthers 2-locular, dorsifixed, dehiscing longitudinally disk hypogynous. Ovary superior, 3-5 locular, syncarpus, ovules numerous, anatropus, axil placentation, styles 3-5, short, erect or curved, stigma clavate. Fruit capsule, obovoid-globose, dehiscing septicidally or septifrugally. Seeds numerous, oblong, erect, surface smooth, scalariform or reticulate.

Flowering class: Dicot Habit: Herb

Flowering and fruiting: September-December

Bergia species flowers are complete, bisexual, i.e., with functional male (androecium) and female (gynoecium), including stamens, carpels and ovary. Pollination is entomophilous i.e., by insects, or cleistogamy i.e., by self or allogamy i.e., by cross pollination. Flowering/Fruiting: August-November.

Seeds may be dispersed by autochory i.e., self dispersal, anemochory i.e., wind dispersal, zoochory i.e., dispersal by birds or animals.

Annual or perennial herbs, about 10-35 cm tall, stem ascending, erect, succulent, reddish, much branched, with ascending and creeping branches, constricted and rooting at nodes. Leaves simple, opposite-decussate, narrow elliptic-oblong to lanceolate, about 19-50 x 10-22 mm across, attenuate or decurrent at the base, margin entire, apex acute or subacute, glabrous, petiole stout, about 1-5 mm long, stipules, ovate-triangular, margins pectinate membranous, glandular, usually persistent, about 2-3 mm long. Inflorescence densely fascicled in axillary cymes. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, about 2-3 mm across, pedicel subsessile or about 1-4 mm long, bracteate, sepals 3-5, free, ovate-lanceolate, united at the base, membranous, apex subacute, keeled, green with reddish tips, about 1.5-2.5 mm long, petals 3-5, free, white or pink, longer than the sepals, obovate-oblong to spathulate, transparent, margin entire or membranous, apex with mucronate tip, about 2-2.5 mm long. Stamens 10, usually in 2 series, filaments filiform, about 1-1.5 mm long, dilated at the base, anthers 2-locular, oblong, dorsifixed, dehiscing longitudinally disk hypogynous. Ovary superior, 5 locular, syncarpus, ovoid-subglobose, about 2 mm long, ovules numerous, anatropus, axil placentation, styles 5, slightly curved, about 2 mm long, stigma capitate. Fruit capsule, obovoid-globose, about 2 mm across, 5 loculed, dehiscing septicidally or septifrugally. Seeds numerous, oblong-ellipsoid, minute, dark brown to black, scalariform or reticulate.

Bergia species are susceptible to various insect pests, powdery mildews, root knot by nematodes and moulds.

Notes: Fallow lands, Paddy fields and grasslands

In wet muddy places, fallow, paddy fields, near ponds and marshy river banks.

Fallow lands, paddy fields and grasslands

Not evaluated (IUCN).

Used in folk rituals and medicine.