Bergia polyantha Sond.

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.

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: November-February.

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

Annual herbs, about 4-10 cm tall, stem ascending or decumbent, purplish, much branched, with many slender divaricate branches, glabrous. Leaves simple, opposite-decussate, ovate-oblong, about 4-7 x 2-3.5 mm across, base cuneate, margin entire or minutely denticulate towards apex after half, apex subacute, pubescent, petiole sessile or subsessile, stipules, triangular, base shortly connate, deeply 8 lobed with hyaline lobes, apex acuminate, persistent, about 1.5 mm long. Inflorescence solitary or in pairs, axillary or terminal. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, about 2-3 mm across, pedicel about 4-5.5 mm long, bracteate, sepals 5, free, ovate-lanceolate, united at the base, margins denticulate, membranous, apex acute or subacute, keeled, about 3 mm long, petals 5, free, pink, white, slightly longer than the sepals, obovate-oblong, transparent, margin entire or membranous, triveined, apex obtuse. 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, about 0.5-1 mm long. Ovary superior, 5 locular, syncarpus, ovoid-subglobose, 5 ribbed longitudinally, ovules numerous, anatropus, axil placentation, styles 5, erect, about 2 mm long, stigma minute, subcapitate. Fruit capsule, obovoid-globose, 5 loculed, whitish about 2 mm long, dehiscing septicidally or septifrugally with 5 valves. Seeds numerous, oblong-ellipsoid, minute, strongly scalariform-reticulate, dark brown to black.

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

Grows in moist areas more during winters.

Least concern (IUCN).