Bacopa caroliniana (Walter) B.L.Rob.

Blue water hyssop (Bacopa caroliniana) is an aquatic plant 10-30 cm tall from the Plantaginaceae family native to the southeastern United States, popular as an aquarium plant thanks to its ability to grow underwater. Its lemon-scented leaves can be eaten as a salad or brewed into tea. Blue water hyssop is traditionally used to treat chronic cough and act as a nerve tonic.

Bacopa caroliniana is a plant that grows in water or in wet or moist soil. Categorized as a hydrophyte or obligate wetland plant, meaning it almost always grows in wetlands rather than more terrestrial areas. This species is usually found growing along coastlines, tidal mudflats, disturbed wetlands, freshwater wetlands, wet ditches, marshes, and pond edges. Prefers areas with full sun (6 hours or more of direct sunlight a day) or partial shade (direct sunlight only half a day, 2-6 hours). This species is heat-tolerant, but not drought- or salt-tolerant.

• Roots fibrous.
• Stem emergent stems (rising above the water) are often covered with fine hairs and may appear velvety. Meanwhile, submerged plant stems (with most or all of the plant underwater) are hairless or nearly hairless. Stem succulent and green.
• Leaves unifoliate, small, green, oblong-nearly round shaped, thick, fleshy, succulent, densely arranged opposite-paired along a short ascending stem, margins entire, apex pointed and base truncate. Emits a lemon-like aroma when the leaves are crushed.
• Flowers small, bright blue with 4-5 ovate petals.
• Fruit smooth, hairless, egg-shaped.

• Propagation is done with stem cuttings and clump division. Cuttings should be taken from the stem tip and about 7-12 cm long, then remove the lower leaves and plant the stem cutting in the growing medium.
• Cuttings usually root well within one month.

Essential oil (α-terpinolene).

Treats respiratory problems (such as chronic cough and shortness of breath), acts as a laxative, sedative, cathartic (emotional release), diuretic, and nerve tonic. Has antimicrobial activity.

• Prepare fresh blue water hyssop leaves and wash until clean.
• Once washed, drain.
• Sun-dry directly for several days or use an oven at 40°C until the moisture content reaches 10%.
• Once dry, store the simplicia in a clean, airtight plastic or container

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