Bacopa rotundifolia (Water-hyssop)

Plant Info
Also known as: Disk Water-hyssop, Round-leaf Water-hyssop
Genus:Bacopa
Family:Plantaginaceae (Plantain)
Life cycle:perennial
Origin:native
Status:
  • State Threatened
Habitat:sun; mud or shallow water; pools, ponds, lakes, ditches
Bloom season:May - June
Plant height:sprawling to 2 feet
Wetland Indicator Status:GP: OBL MW: OBL NCNE: OBL
MN county distribution (click map to enlarge):Minnesota county distribution map
National distribution (click map to enlarge):National distribution map

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Detailed Information

Flower: Flower shape: 5-petals Flower shape: tubular

[photo of flowers] 1 or 2 stalked flowers arising from leaf axils along most of the stem. Flowers are about 1/3 inch long, tubular with 5 white, rounded, spreading lobes. The lobes are slightly shorter than the tube and are yellow at the base and into the throat of the tube. Inside the tube are 4 white-tipped stamens that turn black and a 2-parted style. Flower stalks are hairy and not longer than the associated leaf.

Leaves and stems: Leaf attachment: opposite Leaf type: simple

[photo of leaves] Leaves are opposite, ¼ to 1¼ inch long and to 1 inch wide, round to elliptical, toothless, stalkless, clasping the stem, and with 6 or more veins radiating from the base. New growth is typically hairy. Stems are stout and succulent, smooth to finely hairy, green to reddish, floating when in shallow water and sprawling when stranded in mud, rooting at the nodes and creating dense mats.

Fruit: Fruit type: capsule/pod

Fruit is a round to oval capsule containing numerous small, tan seeds.

Notes:

Water-hyssop is widely distributed in the central US, typically found in the shallows of pond and lake edges, wet ditches, and muddy shores. In Minnesota, its habitat is more restricted to the short-lived, rainwater pools of rock outcrops and prairie ponds. These pools typically dry up in early summer and Water-hyssop disappears soon thereafter. According to the DNR, there were only 22 known occurrences in the state, mostly small populations, and most of these at risk from grazing, herbicide use, and from bedrock mining in particular. It was listed as a Special Concern species in 1984 and elevated to Threatened in 2013. In 2014, however, significant new populations were discovered in the quiet waters and mud flats of the Mississippi River along the Dakota-Washington county border. Its status as a Threatened species may or may not change with these new finds.

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More photos

Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken at Blue Mound State Park, Rock County, and in Big Stone County. Photos courtesy Terry Serres taken in Dakota County.

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Samantha - Elko New Market
on: 2015-05-26 14:31:37

I'm trying to where I can purchase some of these threatened or endanagered MN native plants (if that's possible). I live in an area that has grassland and also some marsh. Thanks

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2015-05-26 16:00:34

I've never seen these for sale anywhere. Besides, I believe MN statute makes it illegal to buy and sell threatened and endangered species, though the law does not appear to be enforced with any enthusiasm. The DNR seems mostly concerned with contaminating the local gene pool.

Posted by: Kimberly E. - Rock County
on: 2019-08-15 09:45:11

Several ephemeral pools with a couple plants each. Currently flowering.

Posted by: Sara Syverhus - Miesville Ravine Park
on: 2022-06-11 19:07:00

I think I saw this plant in Trout Brook.

Posted by: K Chayka
on: 2022-06-12 11:45:18

Sara, I would suspect you saw a different plant but if you would like help with an ID post some images on the Minnesota Wildflowers Facebook page.

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