Bergia suffruticosa (Delile) Fenzl

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: February-October.

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

Undershrubs or shrubs, about 25-60 cm tall, aromatic, stem ascending or decumbent, woody at the base, bark peeling, chartaceous, ferruginous, much branched, with many slender divaricate branches, pubescent with short hairs when young. Leaves simple, opposite-decussate, lanceolate-oblong, about 6-18 x 2-10 mm across, base narrowed, margin entire or minutely crenate or serrulate, apex subacute, pubescent, petiole sessile or subsessile, stipules, pubescent, usually persistent, about 1-2.5 mm long. Inflorescence solitary or fascicled with 2-8 flowered lax cymes, axillary. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, about 3-4 mm across, pedicel about 1-1.5 mm long, bracteate, sepals 3-5, free, ovate-oblong, united at the base, margins denticulate, membranous, apex acute or subacute, keeled, about 2-8 x 3.5 mm across, petals 3-5, 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, 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-pramidal, about 2 mm long, ovules numerous, anatropus, axil placentation, styles 5, erect, about 3 mm long, stigma minute, subcapitate. Fruit capsule, obovoid-globose, 5 loculed, whitish pink, dehiscing septicidally or septifrugally. Seeds numerous, oblong-ellipsoid, minute, surface smooth, shining, dark brown to black.

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

Road sides and near forests.

Not evaluated (IUCN).

Used in folk medicine.