Water-fire

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Water-fire

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lechea verticillata
• Bergia pentandra
• Bergia ammannioides var. glaber
• Bergia ammannioides var. pentandra
• Bergia oryzetorum
• Bergia peploides
• Elatine ammannioides
• Sphondylococca malabarica
• Tillaea rubella

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Bergia ammaannioides, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Malpighiales and the family Elatinaceae. Its taxonomic hierarchy concludes with its placement in the genus Bergia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range across the African continent. In Northern Africa, its presence is documented in Egypt and Western Sahara. Moving toward the West Tropical Africa region, it can be found in Burkina. Additionally, the species is distributed throughout Mali. Finally, its range extends to include the country of Mauritania.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Bergia ammannioides is characterized by its prevalence in anthropogenic landscapes, specifically within crop fields where it often occurs as a spontaneous component of the local flora. This species demonstrates a specific altitudinal preference, thriving at a mean elevation of approximately 1800 m AMSL. Its presence in agricultural settings suggests an ability to adapt to disturbed soils and the varying nutrient availability associated with cultivated environments at these mid-to-high elevations.

Elevational range mean:

1800 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields

Life history

The life history of Bergia ammannioides is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, the plant survives unfavorable environmental periods primarily in the form of seeds, which remain dormant until conditions become suitable for rapid growth and reproduction. This specific life form dictates its strategy of ephemeral existence, allowing it to quickly exploit available resources before completing its biological mission.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Bergia ammannioides is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, existing in a terrestrial to semiaquatic to aquatic habitat. This small-statured plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 0.06 m to a maximum of 0.4 m. The shoots exhibit an ascending orientation, and while it possesses self-supporting qualities, it does not function as an obligatory or facultative climber, nor does it act as a liana or vine. As an independent organism, it is neither a parasite nor an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial or semiaquatic life cycle.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.4 m

Plant height min:

0.06 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Bergia ammannioides is characterized by specific morphological adaptations that facilitate its survival in its natural habitat, particularly reflected in its leaf dimensions. The plant exhibits a highly controlled leaf development process, where the leaf length is strictly regulated within a narrow range to optimize photosynthetic surface area and moisture retention. Specifically, the leaf length fluctuates between a minimum of 0.2 cm and a maximum of 0.3 cm. This minute scale in leaf size suggests a physiological strategy likely adapted to specialized microenvironments, where minimizing transpiration through reduced surface area is critical for maintaining cellular turgor and metabolic stability. Such precise structural constraints are indicative of an evolutionary fine-tuning of its vegetative growth patterns.

Leaf length max:

0.3 cm

Leaf length min:

0.2 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Bergia ammannioides is characterized by a specific phenological cycle related to its flowering period. The plant enters its reproductive phase with the flowering start occurring in August, marking the onset of its seasonal bloom. This flowering period continues through the late summer and early autumn, reaching its flowering end in September. While the overall timing can be subject to environmental variables, this seasonal window defines the primary interval for its floral development and subsequent seed production.

Flowering time :

Aug

Flowering time :

Sep

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Bergia ammannioides has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Cycloartenol, Cyclolaudenol, EtOH, Lupeol, ellagic acid.

Cycloartenol

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Cyclolaudenol

1. Pharmaceutical biology

EtOH

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Lupeol

1. Pharmaceutical biology

ellagic acid

1. Pharmaceutical biology

quercetin

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Activities

Bergia ammannioides has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant.

Antibacterial

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Antioxidant

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Conditions

Bergia ammannioides has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include wounds.

Wounds

1. Pharmaceutical biology