Flora of North America species comparison

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Bacopa eisenii

Bacopa monnieri

Gila River water-hyssop, western hydranthele

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

prostrate, 15–60 cm, hairy.

prostrate, 15–30 cm, glabrous.
Leaves

hairy;

blade base broadly cuneate to truncate, margins entire, apex rounded.

glabrous;

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

17–51 mm.

5–30 mm;

bracteoles present.
Flowers

sepals 5, ovate to oblong, calyx bilaterally symmetric;

corolla white with yellow throat, 10–14 mm;

stamens 3, equal.

sepals 5, ovate to lanceolate, calyx radially symmetric;

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

stamens 4, didynamous.
2n

= 56.

= 64.

Bacopa eisenii

Bacopa monnieri
Phenology Flowering May–Oct. Flowering Apr–Sep.
Habitat Marshes, ponds, pools, wet soil, wet ditches, rice fields. Wetlands, wet sands, mud flats, riparian areas.
Elevation 30–1100 m. (100–3600 ft.) 0–1500 m. (0–4900 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; NV
[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 eisenii was reported by T. H. Kearney and R. H. Peebles (1960) based on a specimen labeled B. rotundifolia at ARIZ.

(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. 262. FNA vol. 17, p. 261.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Bacopa Plantaginaceae > Bacopa
Sibling taxa
B. caroliniana, B. egensis, B. innominata, B. monnieri, B. repens, B. rotundifolia
B. caroliniana, B. egensis, B. eisenii, B. innominata, B. repens, B. rotundifolia
Synonyms Ranapalus eisenii Lysimachia monnieri
Name authority (Kellogg) Pennell: Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 98: 96. (1946) (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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