The green links below add additional plants to the comparison table. Blue links lead to other Web sites.
enable glossary links

blue water-hyssop, lemon bacopa

tropical water-hyssop

Habit Perennials, aromatic. Perennials.
Stems

prostrate, 15–30 cm, hairy.

prostrate, 8–14 cm, hairy.

Leaves

hairy;

blade base broadly cuneate, margins entire, apex obtuse.

hairy;

blade base ± truncate, margins entire, apex rounded.

Pedicels

5–15 mm;

bracteoles present.

6–10 mm.

Flowers

sepals 5, ovate, calyx bilaterally symmetric;

corolla violet-blue with violet-blue throat, 10–13 mm, lobes 4;

stamens 2–4, didynamous.

sepals 5, ovate to oblong, calyx bilaterally symmetric;

corolla white with white throat, 2–5 mm;

stamens 2–4, equal.

Bacopa caroliniana

Bacopa innominata

Phenology Flowering Jun–Nov. Flowering Jun–Sep.
Habitat Marshes, swamps, margins of streams, pastures. Marshy areas, alluvial deposits along streams, wet ditches, muddy shores and banks.
Elevation 0–300 m. (0–1000 ft.) 0–200 m. (0–700 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AL; FL; GA; LA; MD; MS; NC; SC; TX; VA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
FL; GA; MD; NC; SC; VA
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Bacopa caroliniana is used in aquascaping in freshwater aquariums. The species can be propagated vegetatively through cuttings. The leaves of B. caroliniana are lemon scented when crushed.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Bacopa innominata differs from B. rotundifolia in having corollas entirely white; B. rotundifolia has corollas with yellow throats.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 261. FNA vol. 17, p. 263.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Bacopa Plantaginaceae > Bacopa
Sibling taxa
B. egensis, B. eisenii, B. innominata, B. monnieri, B. repens, B. rotundifolia
B. caroliniana, B. egensis, B. eisenii, B. monnieri, B. repens, B. rotundifolia
Synonyms Obolaria caroliniana, Hydrotrida caroliniana Conobea innominata, B. cyclophylla, B. stragula, Herpestis rotundifolia
Name authority (Walter) B. L. Robinson: Rhodora 10: 66. (1908) (M. Gómez) Alain: Revista Soc. Cub. Bot. 13: 61. (1957)
Web links