This species is characterized by its medium-sized leaves, triangular stipules, inflorescences with cincinnoid axes, subsessile to shortly pedicellate flowers, and corolla tubes 2.8--3.3 mm long. The secondary axes are unbranched or branched once. These are short and markedly cincinnoid when flowering starts, and become elongated and spiciform as the fruits develop. The flowers generally develop strigose pedicels up to 1 mm long, and these are all about equal along the axis. The fruits are mostly smooth when dry, without the thickened ribs seen in most other Bertiera species. The name Bertiera procumbens probably needs lectotypification.
Bertiera procumbens is similar to Bertiera guianensis, and apparently replaces it on the western slopes of the Andes in Colombia and Ecuador. Bertiera guianensis differs in its sessile flowers and dry fruits with evident ribs.