Bergia Linn., Mant. 2:152. 1771. Thisleton Dyer in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 1: 251. 1872.
Diffusely branched, erect or decumbent, annual or perennial herbs or undershrubs, often glandular-pubescent or glabrous. Leaves opposite or pseudoverticillate, oblong-linear to elliptic, crenate-serrate or sometimes entire; stipules denticulate or ciliate. Flowers sessile or pedicellate, usually 3-5-merous. Sepals 3-5, lanceolate to ovate-oblong, acute, keeled with hairy, denticulate or serrulate membranous margins. Petals 3-5, mostly ovate-oblong or lanceolate-oblanceolate,, equalling the sepals or subequal. Stamens mostly 5 or 10 in two whorls, rarely more or less, those opposite the petals shorter, the rest with filaments dilated below; anthers small. Carpels 3-5, syncarpous rarely free; ovary ovoid or subglobose-globose, sulcate, 3-5 locular; styles 3-5, free, straight or recurved, usually shorter than the ovary. Capsule 3-5- locular, ovoid-globose, septicidal or septifragal, subcrustaceous. Seeds dark brown to black, sub-cylindric or oblong-ellipsoid, faintly to strongly reticulate.
25 species; distributed in temperate and tropical regions.
