Bergia L.

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Herbs or shrublets, prostrate to erect, often glandular pubescent

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite; stipules often denticulate or ciliate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals often keeled with hyaline margins

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds brown or almost black, ± distinctly reticulate.

Distribution

Some 30 species in the tropics and subtropics of both hemispheres.

Elatinaceae, B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1968

Morphology General Habit

Prostrate, or less often erect, annual or perennial herbs or small shrubs, often glandular pubescent

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite or pseudo-verticillate, linear to elliptic, entire or serrate, the stipules frequently denticulate or ciliate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers axillary, sessile or pedicellate, solitary or fascicled or in verticillate glomerules

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 3–5(–6), elliptic, oblong or lanceolate, often keeled with hyaline margins

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 3–5(–6), mostly oblong or elliptic and about the same size as the sepals

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 3–12, mostly 5 or 10, those opposite to the petals sometimes shorter or absent, the rest with the filaments sometimes broadened at the base; anthers small

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary (3–)5-locular or the carpels almost free, each locule with numerous ovules; styles 3–5, free, usually shorter than the ovary

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a 3–5-locular or 3–5-valved capsule or breaking up into distinct carpels

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds brown or almost black, oblong, subcylindric or 3-angled, sometimes slightly curved, faintly to strongly reticulate or tessellated; embryo straight or curved.

Elatinaceae, H. Wild. Flora Zambesiaca 1:2. 1961

Morphology General Habit

Prostrate or erect annual or perennial herbs or undershrubs, often pubescent, sometimes glandular-pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, usually sessile or subsessile, obovate, oblanceolate, lanceolate, elliptic or linear, entire or serrate; stipules usually denticulate or puberulous at the margin.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers axillary, sessile or pedicelled, solitary or fascicled or in small cymes, sometimes crowded and verticillate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 4–5 (6), free, lanceolate, elliptic or oblong, usually keeled and with hyaline margins, imbricate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 4–5 (6), free, as long as or slightly shorter than the sepals, oblong, oblanceolate, or linear-oblong.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 5–12 (usually 5 or 10), those opposite the petals shorter or absent, those alternating with the petals often with filaments broadened at the base; anther-thecae dehiscing by slits.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 5 (rarely 4)-locular, with many axile ovules in each loculus; carpels almost free; styles free, one per carpel.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a septicidal capsule with the valves separating from the central column from above and so releasing the numerous seeds.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds subcylindric with rounded ends or 3-angled, often shining, brown or almost black and with the cells of the testa often longitudinally tessellated; embryo straight or curved.