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jewelweed
Scientific Name: Impatiens capensis
Family: Balsaminaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Annual
Other Names:
Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
Jewelweed, also known as Spotted Touch-Me-Not, Orange Jewelweed, or Orange Balsam, is an annual plant with a long history of traditional use.
Considerations for Children
- The plant is called "Touch-Me-Not" because its ripe seed pods explode upon touch.
Considerations for Pets
- The text mentions that "regular ingestion of large quantities of these plants can" be hazardous, but it does not specify the type of hazard.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Impatiens capensis
- Common Names: Jewelweed, Spotted Touch-Me-Not, Orange Jewelweed, Orange Balsam
- Family: Balsaminaceae (Touch-Me-Not Family)
- Synonyms: Impatiens biflora, Impatiens balsamina
Description and Growth Habits
- Jewelweed is a tall herb, growing from 0.5 to 2.5 meters high (approximately 1.6 to 8.2 feet).
- It is an annual plant, meaning it completes its life cycle in one growing season.
- The plant has oval, coarsely toothed leaves that are bluish-green. Lower leaves are opposite.
- The plant has clustered, showy flowers.
Distribution and Habitat
- Jewelweed is native to North America.
- It thrives in conditions that many other plants cannot tolerate, including deep shade and soggy soil.
- It can be found in the Pacific Northwest, from Washington to Alaska, and throughout British Columbia.
- Although Jewelweed is a native plant, it is rarely found in Georgia backyards.
Traditional Uses
- For centuries, Native Americans and herbalists in North America have used jewelweed as a natural preventative and treatment for poison ivy and poison oak.
- The leaves and juice from the stem are used.
- It is also a folk remedy for other skin disorders, mosquito bites, bug bites, razor burn, heat rash, ringworm, and athlete's foot.
- The juice of jewelweed is a traditional remedy for all sorts of skin ailments including poison ivy.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Jewelweed is attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, game birds, moths, and mice.
- It is a great garden plant for hummingbirds during their migration.
Quirky Facts
- One common name, "Touch-Me-Not," comes from the way the ripe seed pods explode when touched.
- If you have ever seen a Jewelweed plant in bloom with dew hanging on it, the reason it is called Jewelweed is obvious.
Resources and Further Information
- WebMD provides patient medical information on Jewelweed, including uses, effectiveness, side effects, safety, interactions, user ratings, and products.
- Dave's Garden is a friendly community that shares tips and ideas for gardens, along with seeds and plants.
- MSU Department of Entomology
- Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s Habitat Herald
- Powdermill Nature Reserve