Bacopa monnieri

Distribution Map: Based on vouchered plant specimens only. View county names by placing the mouse cursor over a particular county.

Family:	PLANTAGINACEAE
Species:	Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst.
Common Name:	Smooth Water Hyssop; Herb of Grace; Monnier's Water Hyssop
Habitat:	**
Associated Ecological Communities:	**
Growth Habit:	Herb
Duration:	Perennial
Category:	Vascular
USDA Symbol:	**
Plant Notes:	Herb of Grace is a native herbaceous perennial in the Plantain family (Plantaginaceae). It can be found in the southern half of Alabama. It also occurs in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide. Herb of Grace grows in wet roadside ditches, on stream and river banks, in fresh water and brackish marshes, and on the shores of ponds and lakes. Herb of Grace is a much-branched prostrate herb rooting at the nodes. The stems are succulent, glabrous, and green in color. Leaves are opposite, sessile, succulent, oblanceolate to spatulate in outline, entire, and glabrous. Flowers are solitary in the axils of the leaves. The corolla is campanulate with 5 spreading lobes. The corolla is white to pink in color with a dark red ring about mid-length of the throat and yellow at the base of the throat. There are 4 stamens. The fruit is a capsule. Herb of Grace is also known as brahmi in traditional Indian medicine. It has been used in herbal medicine to improve mental health, to treat Alzheimer's disease and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, and to improve memory. There is limited scientific research to support these uses.--A. Diamond
Taxonomic Notes:	**
Status:	Native, OBL (NWI)
References:	**
Specimen:	View specimen details in the Alabama Herbarium Consortium Specimen Database

** Not applicable or data not available.

Classification

Family	PLANTAGINACEAE - Plantain family
Genus	Bacopa
Species	Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. - Smooth Water Hyssop; Herb of Grace; Monnier's Water Hyssop

Citation

Citation	Bacopa monnieri (Linnaeus) Wettstein, Nat. Pflanzenfam. [Engler & Prantl] 4, Abt. 3b: 77. 1891.
Basionym:	Lysimachia monnieri L. 1756.
Type:	JAMAICA: "Moniera minima repens, foliis subrotundis, floribus singularibus alaribus" (neotype: Browne, Civ. Nat. Hist. Jamaica t. 28(3). 1756). Neotypified by L. H. Cramer, in Dassanayake & Fosberg, Revised Handb. Fl. Ceylon 3: 421. 1981.

** Not applicable or data not available.

Synonyms

Synonym	Full Citation	Basionym	Type
Bacopa monnieri var. micromonnieria	Bacopa monnieri (Linnaeus) Pennell, var. micromonnieria (Grisebach) Pennell, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 98: 96. 1946.	Herpestis micromonnieria Grisebach 1866.
Bacopa monnieria	Bacopa monnieria Wettstein, in Engler & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. 4(3b): 77. 1891, nom. illegit.	Gratiola monnieria Linnaeus 1759, nom. illegit.; Lysimachia monnieri Linnaeus 1756.
Bacopa monnieria var. cuneifolia	Bacopa monnieria Wettstein, var. cuneifolia (Michaux) Fernald, Rhodora 37: 440. 1935.	Moniera cuneifolia Michaux 1803.
Bacopa micromonnieria	Bacopa micromonnieria (Grisebach) B. L. Robinson, Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 44: 614. 1909.	Herpestis micromonnieria Grisebach 1866.
Brami indica	Brami indica Lamarck, Encycl. 1: 459. 1785.		INDIA
Brami micromonnieria	Brami micromonnieria (Grisebach) Pennell, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 75: 10. 1923.	Herpestis micromonnieria Grisebach 1866.
Brami monniera	Brami monniera Drake del Castillo, Fl. Polynesie Franc. 142. 1893, nom. illegit.	Gratiola monnieria Linnaeus 1759, nom. illegit.; Lysimachia monnieri Linnaeus 1756.
Brami monnieri	Brami monnieri (Linnaeus) Pennell, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 71: 243. 1920.	Lysimachia monnieri Linnaeus 1756.
Calytriplex obovata	Calytriplex obovata Ruiz López & Pavón, Syst. Veg. Fl. Peruv. Chil. 165. 1798.		PERU
Gratiola monnieri	Gratiola monnieri (Linnaeus) Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 10. 851. 1759.	Lysimachia monnieri Linnaeus 1756.
Gratiola monnieria	Gratiola monnieria Linnaeus, Amoen. Acad. 4: 306. 1759, nom. illegit.	Lysimachia monnieri Linnaeus 1756.
Habershamia cuneifolia	Habershamia cuneifolia (Michaux) Rafinesque, Autik. Bot. 44. 1840.	Moniera cuneifolia Michaux 1803.
Herpestis cuneifolia	Herpestis cuneifolia (Michaux) Pursh, Fl. Amer. Sept. 418. 1814.	Moniera cuneifolia Michaux 1803.
Herpestis monnieria	Herpestis monnieria Kunth, in Humboldt et al., Nov. Gen. Sp. 2: 366. 1818, nom. illegit.	Gratiola monnieria Linnaeus 1759, nom. illegit.; Lysimachia monnieri Linnaeus 1756.
Herpestis micromonnieria	Herpestis micromonnieria Grisebach, Cat. Pl. Cub. 183. 1866.		CUBA: Without data, Wright 2999 (holotype: GOET?).
Limosella calycina	Limosella calycina Forsskål, Fl. Aegypt.-Arab. 112. 1775.
Lysimachia monnieri	Lysimachia monnieri Linnaeus, Cent. Pl. 2: 9. 1756.		JAMAICA: Without data (neotype: Browne, Civ. Nat. Hist. Jamaica t. 28(3). 1756). Neotypified by L. H. Cramer, in Dassanayake & Fosberg, Revised Handb. Fl. Ceylon 3: 421. 1981.
Moniera brownei	Moniera brownei Persoon, Syn. Pl. 2: 166. 1806.	Lysimachia monnieri Linnaeus 1756.
Moniera calycina	Moniera calycina Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 462. 1891, nom. illegit.	Lysimachia monnieri Linnaeus 1756.
Moniera cuneifolia	Moniera cuneifolia Michaux, Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 22. 1803.		SOUTH CAROLINA: Without data, Michaux s.n. (holotype: P).
Moniera micromonnieria	Moniera micromonnieria (Grisebach) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 463. 1891.	Herpestis micromonnieria Grisebach 1866.
Septas repens	Septas repens Loureiro, Fl. Cochinch. 392. 1790.		CHINA
Septilia repens	Septilia repens (Loureiro) Small, Fl. S.E. U.S. 1064. 1903.	Septas repens Loureiro 1790.
Bramia monnieri
Monniera monniera	Moniera monnieria Britton, Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 5: 292. 1894, nom. illegit.	Gratiola monnieria Linnaeus 1759, nom. illegit.; Lysimachia monnieri Linnaeus 1756.

Specimens and Distribution

This species has been reported in the following counties by the herbaria listed. An overview of the individual specimens are provided in the table that follows. Click on the accession number to view details; click on column headers to sort; choose a county or herbaria to filter the specimen data.

Counties included on distribution map: Baldwin, Choctaw, Covington, Geneva, Houston, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Pike, Sumter

Herbaria represented by specimen data listed below: ALNHS, AUA, JSU, SAMF, TROY, UNA, USAM, UWAL

Range of years during which specimens were collected: 1896 - 1997

Barcode / Accession No.	County	Coll. Date	Collector & Collection No.	Herbarium & Herbarium Name Used
UNA00041551	Baldwin	24 Sep 1977	Harvey, Denise 286	UNA Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell
UWAL0004203	Sumter	13 Nov 2006	Keener, Brian R. 3277	UWAL Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell
TROY000009019	Pike	18 Oct 2006	Diamond, Alvin R. 17088	TROY Bacopa monnieri (Linnaeus) Pennell
UNA00041550	Mobile	30 May 1966	Deramus, Rebecca D916	UNA Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell
USAM000014382	Mobile	06 Oct 1973	LeLong, Michel G. 7329.1	USAM Bacopa monnieri (Linnaeus) Pennell
UWAL0044178	Baldwin	10 Aug 2002	Larsen, Harry S. 1034	UWAL Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst.
SAMF0004647	Mobile	30 May 2009	Keener, Brian R. 5387	SAMF Bacopa monnieri (Linnaeus) Pennell
TROY000044179	Monroe	29 Oct 2016	Searcy, Darryl s.n.	TROY Bacopa monnieri (Linnaeus) Pennell
TROY000049863	Montgomery	19 Jul 2020	Diamond, Alvin R. 29358	TROY Bacopa monnieri (Linnaeus) Pennell
UWAL0038210	Mobile	06 Oct 1973	LeLong, Michel G. 7329.2	UWAL Bacopa monnieri (Linnaeus) Pennell
UWAL0045755	Mobile	26 Jul 1973	Stout, Judy P. 406	UWAL Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst.
UNA00041549	Mobile	30 Apr 1966	Deramus, Rebecca D892	UNA Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell
UNA00058033	Baldwin	15 May 2002	Keener, Brian R. 2059	UNA Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell
UNA00050711	Houston	16 Jun 1997	MacDonald, John R. 10714	UNA Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell
UNA00066788	Pike	18 Oct 2006	Diamond, Alvin R. 17088	UNA Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell
TROY000009020	Pike	18 Oct 2006	Roberts, Carla 118	TROY Bacopa monnieri (Linnaeus) Pennell
UWAL0051248	Mobile	30 May 1966	Deramus, Rebecca D916	UWAL Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell
TROY000023757	Sumter	13 Nov 2006	Keener, Brian R. 3277	TROY Bacopa monnieri (Linnaeus) Pennell
AUA_ACC_65475	Baldwin	11 May 2005	HANSEN, CURTIS J. 1778	AUA BACOPA MONNIERI (L.) PENNELL
AUA_ACC_71848	Mobile	10 Jul 2012	BARGER, T.WAYNE 653	AUA BACOPA MONNIERI (L.) PENNELL
AUA000039717	Mobile	10 Jul 2014	BARGER, T.WAYNE SP1399	AUA BACOPA MONNIERI (L.) PENNELL
UWAL0019129	Choctaw	18 Jul 1995	Kral, Robert 85394	UWAL Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell
ALNHS00000264	Mobile	26 Jul 1998	Spaulding, Daniel D. 10344	ALNHS Bacopa monnieri (L.) Penn.
SAMF0004646	Mobile	25 Sep 1988	Davenport, L.J. 2602	SAMF Bacopa monnieri (Linnaeus) Pennell
AUA000042932	Baldwin	27 Aug 2015	BARGER, T.WAYNE SP2007	AUA BACOPA MONNIERI (L.) PENNELL
UNA00066968	Sumter	13 Nov 2006	Keener, Brian R. 3277	UNA Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell
UWAL0044177	Baldwin	26 Aug 2000	McArthur, Jill D. 636	UWAL Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst.
UWAL0004202	Baldwin	18 Jul 2007	Spaulding, Daniel D. 12709	UWAL Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell
AUA_ACC_4220	Baldwin	14 May 1955	BURCH, JACK	AUA BACOPA MONNIERI (L.) PENNELL
UWAL0002970	Mobile	30 May 2009	Keener, Brian R. 5387	UWAL Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell
UWAL0044176	Baldwin	15 Jul 1995	Larsen, Harry S. 1713	UWAL Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst.
ALNHS00004223	Baldwin	15 Jun 2016	Barger, T. Wayne SP#2617	ALNHS Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell
TROY000009017	Baldwin	11 May 2005	Hansen, Curtis J. 1778	TROY Bacopa monnieri (Linnaeus) Pennell
UNA00060490	Mobile	25 Dec 2002	Zebryk, Tad M. 8166	UNA Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell
JSU141290	Mobile	26 Jul 1998	Spaulding, Daniel D. 10344	JSU Bacopa monnieri (Linnaeus) Pennell
USAM000014381	Mobile	06 Aug 1976	LeLong, Michel G. 9364	USAM Bacopa monnieri (Linnaeus) Pennell
TROY000026072	Baldwin	18 Jul 2007	Spaulding, Daniel D. 12709	TROY Bacopa monnieri (Linnaeus) Pennell
TROY000009018	Covington	17 Jun 2002	Diamond, Alvin R. 13328	TROY Bacopa monnieri (Linnaeus) Pennell
AUA000043401	Baldwin	3 Aug 1926	WOLF, WOLFGANG 2650	AUA BACOPA MONNIERI (L.) PENNELL
UWAL0011362	Baldwin	18 Sep 2011	Keener, Brian R. 6716	UWAL Bacopa monnieri (Linnaeus) Pennell
UWAL0049931	Montgomery	19 Jul 2020	Diamond, Alvin R. 29358	UWAL Bacopa monnieri (Linnaeus) Pennell
ALNHS00000286	Mobile	04 Jun 1998	Crow, D.G. s.n.	ALNHS Bacopa monnieri (L.) Penn.
TROY000034272	Mobile	30 May 2009	Keener, Brian R. 5387	TROY Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell
UNA00041548	Mobile	15 Jul 1965	Deramus, Rebecca D582	UNA Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell
UNA00041558	Mobile	_ Jun _	Mohr, Charles s.n.	UNA Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell
AUA_ACC_803	Mobile	Jul 1964	ADDISON, JOSEPH H.	AUA BACOPA MONNIERI (L.) PENNELL
UNA00056329	Geneva	28 Nov 1998	MacDonald, John R. 12457	UNA Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell
ALNHS00002566	Mobile	10 Jul 2014	Barger, T. Wayne SP#1399	ALNHS Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell
UNA00041559	Mobile	31 May 1896	Mohr, Charles s.n.	UNA Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell
UNA00026151	Covington	15 Oct 1994	Birk, Michelle 229	UNA Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell

View a List of All Ecological Communities

For more information, contact: Brian R. Keener, Ph.D.

Data last modified: 9/19/2025

Web Development: The Florida Center for Community Design + Research

A member of the University of South Florida family of PlantAtlas.org sites

Citation Information:

Keener, B.R., A.R. Diamond, T.W. Barger, L.J. Davenport, P.G. Davison, S.L. Ginzbarg, C.J. Hansen, D.D. Spaulding, J.K. Triplett, and M. Woods. 2025. Alabama Plant Atlas. [S.M. Landry and K.N. Campbell (original application development), Florida Center for Community Design and Research. University of South Florida]. University of West Alabama, Livingston, Alabama.

Data, text, and images licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Bacopa monnieri

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Classification

Citation

Synonyms

Specimens and Distribution