Bacopa salzmannii
Bacopa from a Tupi (indigenous South American) name for aquatic plants. salzmannii honoring Philipp Salzmann (1781–1851), German-French botanist and plant collector who gathered specimens extensively in southern Brazil.
Salzmann's Bacopa
Plantaginaceae
Distinguishing Features
- Opposite , ovate to rounded leaves, slightly larger and rounder than B. caroliniana
- Leaves turn reddish-purple to deep wine-red under high light — more intensely colored than B. caroliniana
- Stems somewhat thicker and more robust than other Bacopa species
- Growth habit upright, moderate pace, 20–40 cm tall
- Emersed form has green, slightly succulent leaves; color change is most dramatic submersed under strong light
- Small purple flowers in leaf axils (emersed form)
Habitat
Freshwater marshes, streams, and pond margins in tropical lowlands. Grows submersed or emersed in shallow, slow-moving or still water.
Notes
Valued in the aquarium hobby for its ability to produce deep red-purple coloration under high light and iron supplementation, without being as demanding as many other red plants. Sometimes sold as Bacopa sp. 'Purple' or Bacopa sp. 'Red.' Slower-growing than most stem plants, requiring less frequent trimming. Propagated by cuttings. Distinguished from B. caroliniana by rounder leaves, redder color potential, and lack of the characteristic lemon scent.