Bacopa

Bacopa
	Bacopa monnieri
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Plantaginaceae
Tribe:	Gratioleae
Genus:	Bacopa; Aubl. (1775), nom. cons.
Species
	60; see text
Synonyms
	Allocalyx Cordem. (1895); Anisocalyx Hance (1853); Blanckia Neck. (1790), opus utique oppr.; Brami Adans. (1763); Bramia Lam. (1785); Caconapea Cham. in Linnaea 8: 28 (1833); Calytriplex Ruiz & Pav. (1794); Cardiolophus Griff. (1836); Conobea Aubl. (1775); Habershamia Raf. (1825); Heptas Meisn. (1840); Herpestis Gaertn. (1807); Hydranthelium Kunth (1825); Hydropyxis Raf. in Fl. Ludov.: 94 (1817); Hydrotrida Willd. ex Britton & A.Br. (1913); Macuillamia Raf. (1825); Moniera P.Browne (1756), nom. rej.; Maeviella Rossow (1983-1985 publ. 1985); Mella Vand. (1788); Monocardia Pennell (1919 publ. 1920); Naiadothrix Pennell (1920); Quinquelobus Benj. (1847); Ranapalus Kellogg (1877); Ranaria Cham. (1833); Septas Lour. (1790), nom. illeg.; Septilia Raf. (1838); Silvinula Pennell (1920); Sinobacopa D.Y.Hong (1987); Sphaerotheca Cham. & Schltdl. (1827);

Bacopa is a genus of 60 aquatic plants belonging to the family Plantaginaceae. It is commonly known as waterhyssop (or water hyssop, though this is more misleading as Bacopa is not very closely related to hyssop but simply has a somewhat similar appearance).

Description

They are annual or perennial, with decumbent or erect stems. The leaves are opposite or whorled, and sessile. The leaf blade is regular, round to linear, and the venation is palmate or pinnate. Its stems are hairy or smooth. The flowers are produced solitary or in pairs from leaf axils, usually radially symmetrical, with five sepals and five petals, and they are usually white, blue, or purple. Dispersal and propagation is by seeds and stem fragments. Crushed leaves have a distinctive 'lemon' scent.

Habitat and range

Bacopa species are found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, particularly the Americas. 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.

Uses

Bacopa monnieri is used in Ayurvedic medicine.^{[citation needed]} Preliminary clinical research found that the herb may improve cognition.

Cultivation

Some of these species are commonly used in freshwater aquariums and ponds in warmer climates. Most are easy to grow and will tolerate a wide range of conditions. B. monnieri will tolerate brackish water up to 15 ppt, due to specialized adaptations that enable it to survive in saline environments. Algal infestation can be a problem in brighter lighting conditions.

Species

60 species are accepted.

Bacopa albida (Pennell) Standl.
Bacopa angulata (Benth.) Loefgr. & Edwall
Bacopa aquatica Aubl.
Bacopa arenaria (J.A.Schmidt) Loefgr. & Edwall
Bacopa aubletiana Scatigna
Bacopa australis V.C.Souza
Bacopa axillaris (Benth.) Standl.
Bacopa bacopoides (Benth.) Pulle
Bacopa beccabunga (Griseb.) B.L.Rob.
Bacopa bracteolata Standl.
Bacopa braunii (Ernst) Pennell
Bacopa callitrichoides (Kunth) Pennell
Bacopa caroliniana (Walter) B.L.Rob. – lemon bacopa, blue water hyssop, giant bacopa
Bacopa cochlearia (Huber) L.B.Sm.
Bacopa congesta Chodat & Hassl.
Bacopa connata (Pennell) Pennell
Bacopa crenata (P.Beauv.) Hepper
Bacopa decumbens (Fernald) F.N.Williams
Bacopa depressa (Benth.) Loefgr. & Edwall
Bacopa dubia Chodat & Hassl.
Bacopa egensis (Poepp.) Pennell
Bacopa eisenii (Kellogg) Pennell – Gila River waterhyssop
Bacopa floribunda (R.Br.) Wettst.
Bacopa gracilis (Benth.) Loefgr. & Edwall
Bacopa gratioloides (Cham.) Chodat
Bacopa hamiltoniana (Benth.) Wettst.
Bacopa humifusa (Griseb.) B.L.Rob.
Bacopa imbricata (Benth.) Pennell
Bacopa innominata (G.Maza) Alain – tropical waterhyssop
Bacopa lacertosa Standl.
Bacopa lanigera (Cham. & Schltdl.) Wettst.
Bacopa laxiflora (Benth.) Edwall
Bacopa lecomtei Bonati
Bacopa lisowskiana Mielcarek
Bacopa longipes (Pennell) Standl.
Bacopa madagascariensis (Benth.) Pennell
Bacopa micromonnieria (Griseb.) B.L.Rob.
Bacopa minuta Borhidi & O.Muñiz
Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. – water hyssop, moneywort, herb of grace
Bacopa monnierioides (Cham.) B.L.Rob.
Bacopa myriophylloides (Benth.) Wettst.
Bacopa neuwiedii Scatigna
Bacopa occultans (Hiern) Hutch. & Dalziel
Bacopa oxycalyx Alain
Bacopa paraguariensis (S.Moore) Hassl.
Bacopa pennellii G.M.Barroso & Ichaso
Bacopa punctata Engl.
Bacopa repens (Sw.) Wettst.
Bacopa reptans (Benth.) Edwall
Bacopa rotundifolia (Michx.) Wettst. – disc waterhyssop
Bacopa salzmannii (Benth.) Edwall
Bacopa scabra (Benth.) Descole & Borsini
Bacopa scoparioides (Cham. & Schltdl.) Scatigna
Bacopa semiserrata (Schrank) B.L.Rob.
Bacopa serpyllifolia (Benth.) Pennell
Bacopa sessiliflora (Benth.) Edwall
Bacopa stemodioides (Pennell) Pennell
Bacopa stricta (Schrad.) Wettst. ex Edwall – yerba de culebra
Bacopa valerii Standl. & L.O.Williams
Bacopa verticillata (Pennell & Gleason) Pennell

Bacopa

Bacopa monnieri
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Plantaginaceae
Tribe:	Gratioleae
Genus:	Bacopa Aubl. (1775), nom. cons.
Species
60; see text
Synonyms
Allocalyx Cordem. (1895) Anisocalyx Hance (1853) Blanckia Neck. (1790), opus utique oppr. Brami Adans. (1763) Bramia Lam. (1785) Caconapea Cham. in Linnaea 8: 28 (1833) Calytriplex Ruiz & Pav. (1794) Cardiolophus Griff. (1836) Conobea Aubl. (1775) Habershamia Raf. (1825) Heptas Meisn. (1840) Herpestis Gaertn. (1807) Hydranthelium Kunth (1825) Hydropyxis Raf. in Fl. Ludov.: 94 (1817) Hydrotrida Willd. ex Britton & A.Br. (1913) Macuillamia Raf. (1825) Moniera P.Browne (1756), nom. rej. Maeviella Rossow (1983-1985 publ. 1985) Mella Vand. (1788) Monocardia Pennell (1919 publ. 1920) Naiadothrix Pennell (1920) Quinquelobus Benj. (1847) Ranapalus Kellogg (1877) Ranaria Cham. (1833) Septas Lour. (1790), nom. illeg. Septilia Raf. (1838) Silvinula Pennell (1920) Sinobacopa D.Y.Hong (1987) Sphaerotheca Cham. & Schltdl. (1827)