Common names: water hyssop, herb of grace, brahmi

Family: Scrophulariaceae

Could be confused with: Lindernia, Lysimachia, Mayaca, Micranthemum, Myriophyllum (rarely), Rotala.

Native distribution: Tropical and subtropical regions of world, particularly America.

Species commonly cultivated:
Bacopa caroliniana (Walter) B.L. Rob. (North America) (B. amplexicaulis)
B. lanigera (Cham. & Schldl.) Wettst. (Brazil)
B. monnieri (L.) Pennell (Pan-tropical)
B. myriophylloides (Benth.) Wettst. (Brazil)

Adventive distribution: Information not available.

Weed status: Native species of Bacopa (B. rotundifolia (Michx.) Wettst., B. monnieri and B. eisenii (Kell.) Pennell) are known to be weeds in rice crops in the United States.

Habit: Terrestrial, amphibious or obligately aquatic stem plant.

Brief description: Annual or perennial, decumbent or erect. Stems hairy or smooth. Leaves opposite or whorled, sessile; leaf blade round to linear, venation palmate or pinnate. Flowers solitary or in pairs in leaf axils, usually actinomorphic, with 5 sepals and 5 petals, usually white, blue or purple. Dispersal and propagation by seeds and stem fragments.

Natural habitat: Often found as a littoral inhabitant of streams, lakes and wetlands.

Additional comments: This genus contains 70-100 species, most of which are terrestrial or amphibious; several species (e.g. B. myriophylloides) are obligate aquatic. Only four species are commonly cultivated. A terrestrial plant with coarsely toothed leaves and white flowers sold as Bacopa is actually Sutera diffusus. Species of Bacopa are usually aromatic with a lemon scent when damaged, and plant extracts are used as herbal remedies.