Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst.

Smooth Water Hyssop; Herb of Grace; Monnier's Water Hyssop

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

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

**

Native OBL (NWPL)

**