Description: Erect or prostrate annual or perennial herbs.
Leaves opposite, margins entire or toothed; petiole short; stipules 2, persistent.
Flowers solitary, paired, or in clusters. Sepals 3–5, subequal to petals; petals as many as sepals. Stamens 3–10. Carpels 3–5.
Seeds numerous, more or less cylindrical.
Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 25 species, drier tropical & subtropical regions. Australia: 5 species, all mainland States, chiefly inland areas.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs
Taxon concept:
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Stamens 10; flowers solitary | Bergia perennis |
| Stamens 3–5; flowers in axillary clusters | 2 |
| 2 | Flowers usually 3- or 4-merous; petals obtuse | Bergia trimera |
| Flowers mostly 5-merous; petals acute
Back to 1 | 3 |
| 3 | Sepals acute, narrow, alternating with petals, both clearly visible | Bergia ammannioides |
| Sepals obtuse, broad, opposite and obscuring petals
Back to 2 | Bergia occultipetala |
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