Bacopa

File:Bacopa monnieri W IMG 1612.jpg in Hyderabad, India ]]

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.

File:Bacopa myriophylloides.jpg]]

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.

Bacopa monnieri is used in Ayurvedic medicine.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}} Preliminary clinical research found that the herb may improve cognition.{{cite journal |last1=Aguiar |first1=Sebastian |last2=Borowski |first2=Thomas |title=Neuropharmacological review of the nootropic herb Bacopa monnieri |journal=Rejuvenation Research |date=2013 |volume=16 |issue=4 |pages=313–326 |doi=10.1089/rej.2013.1431 |pmid=23772955 |pmc=3746283 |issn=1557-8577}}{{cite journal |last1=Kongkeaw |first1=C |last2=Dilokthornsakul |first2=P |last3=Thanarangsarit |first3=P |last4=Limpeanchob |first4=N |last5=Norman Scholfield |first5=C |title=Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on cognitive effects of Bacopa monnieri extract. |journal=Journal of Ethnopharmacology |date=2014 |volume=151 |issue=1 |pages=528–35 |doi=10.1016/j.jep.2013.11.008 |pmid=24252493}}{{cite journal | last1=Neale | first1=Chris | last2=Camfield | first2=David | last3=Reay | first3=Jonathon | last4=Stough | first4=Con | last5=Scholey | first5=Andrew | title=Cognitive effects of two nutraceuticals Ginseng and Bacopa benchmarked against modafinil: a review and comparison of effect sizes | journal=British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology | volume=75 | issue=3 | date=5 February 2013 | issn=0306-5251 | pmid=23043278 | pmc=3575939 | doi=10.1111/bcp.12002 | pages=728–737}}

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.{{Cite journal|url=https://bp.ueb.cas.cz/artkey/bpl-199901-0015_Proline-Accumulation-Protein-Pattern-and-Photosynthesis-in-Bacopa-Monniera-Regenerants-Grown-under.php?back=/magno/bpl/1999/mn1.php?secid=3|doi = 10.1023/A:1002127711432|title = Proline Accumulation, Protein Pattern and Photosynthesis in Bacopa Monniera Regenerants Grown under Na Cl Stress|year = 1999|last1 = Ali|first1 = G.|last2 = Srivastava|first2 = P.S.|last3 = Iqbal|first3 = M.|journal = Biologia Plantarum|volume = 42|pages = 89–95|s2cid = 30418903|doi-access = free}}{{Cite web|url=https://ijpsr.com/bft-article/histological-and-morphological-responses-of-bacopa-monnieri-l-pennell-in-glycophytic-and-halophytic-conditions/?view=fulltext|title = Histological and Morphological Responses of Bacopa Monnieri (L.) Pennell in Glycophytic and Halophytic Conditions | International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research|date = 31 December 2018}}{{cite web | last=Native Plants Hawaii | title=Bacopa monnieri | url=http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Bacopa_monnieri | accessdate = 19 July 2012}}

60 species are accepted.

• Chaenostoma cordatum syn. Sutera cordata, a plant also known by the obsolete name Bacopa.

{{Commons category|Bacopa}}

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Category:Plantaginaceae

Category:Plantaginaceae genera

Category:Freshwater plants

Category:Pantropical flora

Category:Taxa named by Jean Baptiste Christophore Fusée Aublet