Flora of North America species comparison

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Bacopa caroliniana

Bacopa monnieri

blue water-hyssop, lemon bacopa

brahmi, coastal waterhyssop, herb-of-grace, Indian pennywort
Habit Perennials, aromatic. Perennials, sometimes annuals.
Stems

prostrate, 15–30 cm, hairy.

prostrate, 15–30 cm, glabrous.
Leaves

hairy;

blade base broadly cuneate, margins entire, apex obtuse.

glabrous;

blade fleshy, base narrowly cuneate, margins entire or serrate, apex obtuse, 1-nerved.
Pedicels

5–15 mm;

bracteoles present.

5–30 mm;

bracteoles present.
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 lanceolate, calyx radially symmetric;

corolla white with yellow throat, 5–10 mm, lobes 5;

stamens 4, didynamous.
2n

= 64.

Bacopa caroliniana

Bacopa monnieri
Phenology Flowering Jun–Nov. Flowering Apr–Sep.
Habitat Marshes, swamps, margins of streams, pastures. Wetlands, wet sands, mud flats, riparian areas.
Elevation 0–300 m. (0–1000 ft.) 0–1500 m. (0–4900 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AL; FL; GA; LA; MD; MS; NC; SC; TX; VA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AL; AZ; CA; FL; GA; LA; MD; MS; NC; OK; SC; TX; VA; Mexico; Central America; South America; West Indies; s Europe; Asia; Africa; Australia [Introduced in sw Europe (Portugal, Spain), Asia (China, Taiwan)]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[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 monnieri is thought to be native throughout much of its range, though it is weedy and cultivated. It readily colonizes irrigated fields, especially rice fields, and seeds easily get mixed with rice and are planted in new locations. Bacopa monnieri is introduced in parts of Europe (Portugal, Spain) and Asia (China, Taiwan). It can be propagated vegetatively by cuttings.

Bacopa monnieri is used medicinally in Asia in traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda). It is edible and contains steroidal saponins, including bacosides, that have beneficial effects on the nervous system. Leaf, stem, and root extracts are used as cardiac and nerve tonics, sedatives, and vasoconstrictors. Leaves and stems are diuretic and used in treating constipation and indigestion. An alcohol extract of the whole plant has been used to treat Walker carcinoma and as a cardiovascular and muscle relaxer. In the United States, recent studies suggest it has potential for enhancing cognitive performance in the elderly and in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (C. Calabres et al. 2008; S. Aguiar and T. Borowski 2013). Extracts are used in the treatment of nerve and brain disorders; they also are believed to enhance intellect and decrease fertility.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Source FNA vol. 17, p. 261. FNA vol. 17, p. 261.
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. innominata, B. repens, B. rotundifolia
Synonyms Obolaria caroliniana, Hydrotrida caroliniana Lysimachia monnieri
Name authority (Walter) B. L. Robinson: Rhodora 10: 66. (1908) (Linnaeus) Wettstein: in H. G. A. Engler and K. Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. 67[IV,3b]: 77. (1891) — (as monniera)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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