In the aquarium it needs good lighting to grow strongly but will survive in even fairly low-light levels.

[1][full citation needed] When gold nanoparticles were introduced into Bacopa caroliniana plants they caused the chlorophyll to produce reddish light.

[2] While lit, the glowing plants' vegetation consumed more carbon from the atmosphere than normal (i.e. the luminescence causes the cells to undergo photosynthesis).

The Taiwanese research team behind the discovery hopes to implement modified Bacopa caroliniana plants as environmentally friendly street lamps.

Popular Science calls this a "triple threat," in that the "trees" could cut energy costs, reduce global warming, and keep streets safely lit at night.