Impedance plethysmography

Impatiens capensis, also known as orange jewelweed, common jewelweed, spotted jewelweed, or orange balsam, is a plant species native to North America. It belongs to the Balsaminaceae family and is known for its distinctive orange flowers and its method of seed dispersal.

Description

Impatiens capensis is an annual plant that typically grows between 0.5 and 1.5 meters in height. The leaves are alternate and simple, with a toothed margin. The flowers are orange with a three-lobed corolla; one of the calyx lobes is shaped into a nectar spur. The plant blooms from late spring to early fall.

Distribution and habitat

Impatiens capensis is native to North America, but it has also been introduced to other parts of the world, including Europe and Asia. It is typically found in damp, semi-shaded areas along streams, rivers, and wetlands.

Ecology

Impatiens capensis is a food plant for several species of Lepidoptera, such as the cabbage white butterfly. The seeds are also eaten by birds and small mammals. The plant has a unique method of seed dispersal: when the seed pods mature and dry, they "explode" when touched, ejecting the seeds up to several meters away.

Uses

Impatiens capensis has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various ailments. The juice from the stems is believed to relieve the itch from poison ivy and stinging nettle. It is also used as a preventative and treatment for athlete's foot.

Cultivation

Impatiens capensis is easy to grow from seed and is often used in butterfly and hummingbird gardens. It prefers a semi-shaded location with damp soil.

See also

• Impatiens
• Balsaminaceae
• Invasive species

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