Bacopa

The Bacopa

is a genus of 70 - 100 aquatic plants belonging to the family Plantaginaceae. Commonly known as Water Hyssop.

Description
They are annual or perennial, decumbent or erect stemmed plants. The leaves are opposite or whorled, sessile. Leaf blade regular, round to linear, venation palmate or pinnate. Stems hairy or smooth. The flowers are produced solitary or in pairs from leaf axil, usually radially symmetrical, sepals 5, petals 5, usually white, blue or purple in color. Dispersal and propagation is by seeds and stem fragments. Crushed leaves have a distinctive 'lemon' scent.

Uses
B. monnieri is important in Ayurvedic medicine and has been used, particularly in India, for several thousand years.

Species
The species in the Bacopa genus include:

B. australis
B. caroliniana (lemon bacopa, blue water hyssop, giant bacopa)
B. crenata
B. madagascariensis
B. monnieri (water hyssop, moneywort, herb of grace)
B. myriophylloides
and are found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, particularly America. A few are regarded as weeds and excess stock should not be dumped in warmer regions. Most grow in moist amphibious conditions, though some like B. myriophylloides seem to be wholly aquatic.

Confusion with
A South

African ground cover plant sometimes sold in garden centres as Bacopa Snowflake (white flowers) or Blue Showers (blue flowers) - or other similar names - are actually varieties of Sutera cordata a tender perennial.

Cultivation
Some of these species are commonly used in freshwater aquariums and around and in ponds in warmer climes. Most are easy to grow and are slow-growing, but require medium to high amounts of light. Most are easy to grow and will tolerate a wide range of water conditions. B. caroliniana at least will tolerate brackish water. Plants are usually best planted in groups in the middle to background. Algal infestation can be a problem in brighter lighting conditions.

Other useful herb information: Cordyceps | Kelp | White oak | Lobelia | Bladderwrack | Camellia | Uva Ursi

Bacopa

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