Bacopa Explained

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. Preliminary clinical research found that the herb may improve cognition.^[1] ^[2] ^[3]

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.^[4] ^[5] ^[6]

Species

60 species are accepted.

Bacopa albida
Bacopa angulata
Bacopa aquatica
Bacopa arenaria
Bacopa aubletiana
Bacopa australis
Bacopa axillaris
Bacopa bacopoides
Bacopa beccabunga
Bacopa bracteolata
Bacopa braunii
Bacopa callitrichoides
Bacopa caroliniana (Walter) B.L.Rob. - lemon bacopa, blue water hyssop, giant bacopa
Bacopa cochlearia
Bacopa congesta
Bacopa connata
Bacopa crenata
Bacopa decumbens (Fernald) F.N.Williams^[7]
Bacopa depressa
Bacopa dubia
Bacopa egensis
Bacopa eisenii (Kellogg) Pennell - Gila River waterhyssop
Bacopa floribunda
Bacopa gracilis
Bacopa gratioloides
Bacopa hamiltoniana
Bacopa humifusa
Bacopa imbricata
Bacopa innominata (G.Maza) Alain - tropical waterhyssop
Bacopa lacertosa

Bacopa lanigera
Bacopa laxiflora
Bacopa lecomtei
Bacopa lisowskiana
Bacopa longipes
Bacopa madagascariensis
Bacopa micromonnieria
Bacopa minuta
Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. - water hyssop, moneywort, herb of grace
Bacopa monnierioides
Bacopa myriophylloides
Bacopa neuwiedii
Bacopa occultans
Bacopa oxycalyx
Bacopa paraguariensis
Bacopa pennellii
Bacopa punctata
Bacopa repens (Sw.) Wettst.
Bacopa reptans
Bacopa rotundifolia (Michx.) Wettst. - disc waterhyssop
Bacopa salzmannii
Bacopa scabra
Bacopa scoparioides
Bacopa semiserrata
Bacopa serpyllifolia
Bacopa sessiliflora
Bacopa stemodioides
Bacopa stricta (Schrad.) Wettst. ex Edwall - yerba de culebra
Bacopa valerii
Bacopa verticillata

Formerly placed here

Mecardonia procumbens (Mill.) Small (as B. procumbens (Mill.) Greenm.)^[7]

Notes and References

Aguiar . Sebastian . Borowski . Thomas . Neuropharmacological review of the nootropic herb Bacopa monnieri . Rejuvenation Research . 2013 . 16 . 4 . 313–326 . 10.1089/rej.2013.1431 . 23772955 . 3746283 . 1557-8577.
Kongkeaw . C . Dilokthornsakul . P . Thanarangsarit . P . Limpeanchob . N . Norman Scholfield . C . Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on cognitive effects of Bacopa monnieri extract. . Journal of Ethnopharmacology . 2014 . 151 . 1 . 528–35 . 10.1016/j.jep.2013.11.008 . 24252493.
Neale . Chris . Camfield . David . Reay . Jonathon . Stough . Con . Scholey . Andrew . Cognitive effects of two nutraceuticals Ginseng and Bacopa benchmarked against modafinil: a review and comparison of effect sizes . British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology . 75 . 3 . 5 February 2013 . 0306-5251 . 23043278 . 3575939 . 10.1111/bcp.12002 . 728–737.
Proline Accumulation, Protein Pattern and Photosynthesis in Bacopa Monniera Regenerants Grown under Na Cl Stress. 10.1023/A:1002127711432. 1999. Ali. G.. Srivastava. P.S.. Iqbal. M.. Biologia Plantarum. 42. 89–95. 30418903. free.
Web site: Histological and Morphological Responses of Bacopa Monnieri (L.) Pennell in Glycophytic and Halophytic Conditions | International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research. 31 December 2018.
Web site: Native Plants Hawaii . Bacopa monnieri . 19 July 2012.
Web site: GRIN Species Records of Bacopa . Germplasm Resources Information Network . United States Department of Agriculture . 2011-01-18.