Common name: Water hyssop, Indian penny wort. Tamil Name: Neera brahmi
Indian penny wort is a creeping perennial that grows to a height of about 7.5 cm, the plant is also seen t times erect. They are succulent plants, rooting at nodes, they prefer aquatic and marshy habitats. They do grow well even in fully submerged conditions. The simple leafs are arranged in an opposite manner; the leaf margin is entire and are succulent. The leafs grow to around 2 to 2.5cm in length. Flowers appear solitary at leaf axis and are light blue in color. The flower stalk is rather long at around 2.5 to 3 cm in length. The flower is blipped and bisexual. The anthers are four in number: 2 pairs in different sizes. The fruit is in the form of a capsule. The plant is seen in India, Srilanka, China and other parts of Asia. The leaf is consumed as a vegetable. The plant is much sort after as a medicinal plant in Ayurveda. Bacopa genus has 60 to 70 species. They are found in aquatic and marshy habitat. The plant is succulent, and root at nodes they have simple leafs arranged in an opposite manner. They are referred to as ‘water hyssop’ and found in tropical and sub-tropical areas of Asia ad Australia. They have blipped flower (solitary) and come mostly in blue or white color.
