1. Bergia Linnaeus, Mant. Pl. 2: 152, 241. 1771.
Water-fire [For Peter J. Bergius, 1730–1790, Swedish botanist and physician, student of Linnaeus] Water-fire [For Peter J. Bergius, 1730–1790, Swedish botanist and physician, student of Linnaeus]
Gordon C. Tucker
Herbs [subshrubs], terrestrial [aquatic], glandular-pubescent. Stems ascending to prostrate, solid or pithy, not rooting at nodes [rooting at proximal nodes]. Leaves: stipules nearly membranous; petiole present; blade margins serrulate. Inflorescences usually cymes, rarely flowers solitary. Pedicels present. Flowers: sepals 5, distinct, equal, carinate, apex acuminate or acute; petals 5, apex acute; stamens (5 or 7–)10; pistil 5-carpellate; ovary 5-locular, apex ± acute; styles 5; stigmas 5. Capsules cartilaginous. Seeds 3–6[–10] per locule, brown, slightly curved, surface obscurely reticulate with rectangular pits. x = 6.
Species ca. 25 (1 in the flora): w, c United States, n Mexico, Asia, Africa, Australia; introduced in South America; warm-temperate and tropical regions.
Bergia has its greatest diversity in Africa and Australia.
