Bacopa caroliniana
Common Name(s): Lemon bacopa
Native to Florida
See Extension Publication: Lemon bacopa: Bacopa caroliniana by Lyn Gettys and Carl J. Della Torre III (2015)
Bacopa caroliniana is an emersed plant. This small sprawling herb is common in fresh and brackish waters. At least three species of bacopa are native to Florida and are distributed throughout much of the state (Wunderlin, 2015). This species, lemon bacopa, is distinguished by its blue flowers, a hairy upper stem, and by the lemony scent of its crushed leaves.
Bacopa caroliniana leaves are succulent and relatively thick. Its leaves are only 1/8 inch wide and 5/8 inch long. Leaves are almost round, and are arranged oppositely on the stem. Flowers are small and blue, with 4 or 5 petals.
Video Transcript
Lemon bacopa – Bacopa caroliniana
Bacopas are small, erect, aquatic herbs. They may be found submersed or emersed. Two bacopa species are common natives of Florida. Small mats of bacopa may be found in fresh and brackish waters throughout the state. Bacopa leaves are succulent and relatively thick, and arranged oppositely on the stems. The leaves are oblong, one-half-inch wide, and one-half-inch long. The leaf tips are rounded. Flowers are conspicuous and, depending on the species, may be blue or white, with four or five petals. Lemon bacopa, Bacopa caroliniana, can be distinguished from smooth water hyssop, Bacopa monnieri, in two ways: lemon bacopa has blue flowers; its Florida cousins have white flowers. Lemon bacopa is the only species with a lemony scent from its crushed leaves.
- Remember, bacopas
- are small, erect herbs, with opposite leaves;
- leaves are oblong, thick, and succulent;
- flowers are either blue or white with four or five petals.