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Impatiens pallida - Nutt.

Common Name Pale Jewelweed, Pale touch-me-not
Family Balsaminaceae
USDA hardiness 7-10
Known Hazards Regular ingestion of large quantities of these plants can be dangerous due to their high mineral content[172]. This report, which seems nonsensical, might refer to calcium oxalate. This mineral is found in I. capensis and so is probably also in other members of the genus. It can be harmful raw but is destroyed by thoroughly cooking or drying the plant[K]. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones and hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet[238].
Habitats Moist woodland and wet meadows, usually on calcareous soils[43].
Range Eastern N. America - Newfoundland to Saskatchewan, south to Georgia.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Impatiens pallida Pale Jewelweed, Pale touch-me-not


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Phyzome
Impatiens pallida Pale Jewelweed, Pale touch-me-not
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Arx_Fortis

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Impatiens pallida is a ANNUAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft) by 0.6 m (2ft in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Seed  Shoots
Edible Uses:

Young leaves and shoots - cooked[62]. Added to sukiyaki, chow mein and other oriental dishes[183]. When used as a vegetable on their own the cooking water should be changed once or twice during the cooking[183]. Some caution is advised, see the notes on toxicity at the top of the record. Seed[62]. No more details are given but the seeds are difficult to harvest in quantity, mainly because of their exploding seed capsules which scatter the ripe seed at the slightest touch[K].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Skin  Stings

The whole plant is diuretic, emetic and purgative[238]. It is only used externally, the soothing and medicinal sap is a proven remedy for nettle stings and poison ivy rash[62, 207, 222, 238, 257] and is also used in the treatment of warts, corns, ringworm and haemorrhoids[238].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Fungicide

A fungicide is obtained from the plant. It is used to treat skin diseases[62]. There are no more details but it is probably obtained from the fresh juice of the plant and can be concentrated by boiling up the juice.

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in any reasonably good soil[1]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers a moist well-drained humus rich soil in a cool site[200]. The plant is hardy to about -5°c[238]. It should be possible to grow it as a spring-sown annual in most parts of Britain. This plant has seed capsules that spring open forcibly as the seed ripens to eject the seed a considerable distance. The capsules are sensitive to touch even before the seed is ripe, making seed collection difficult but fun[K].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Québec (south), Nova Scotia, Ontario (south), New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador (southwest)), United States (Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas (east), Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota (east), Oklahoma (northeast), South Dakota (east), Wisconsin, Colorado, Arkansas, Georgia (north), Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina (west), Tennessee, Virginia)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Cardamine impatiensNarrowleaf bittercressAnnual/Biennial0.6 4-8  LMHSNMWe210
Impatiens aurellaPaleyellow touch-me-notAnnual0.0 0-0  LMHSNM222
Impatiens balsaminaRose Balsam, Spotted snapweed, Touch-Me-Not, Garden BalsamAnnual0.6 0-0 MLMHSNM222
Impatiens capensisJewelweedAnnual1.2 - FLMHSNM322
Impatiens ecalcarata Annual0.0 -  LMHSNM222
Impatiens edgeworthii Annual0.6 -  LMHSNM001
Impatiens glanduliferaJewelweed, Ornamental jewelweedAnnual1.5 5-9 FLMHSNM312
Impatiens noli-tangereTouch-Me-NotAnnual1.0 5-9  LMHSNM32 
Impatiens occidentalis Annual0.0 -  LMHSNM322
Impatiens parvifloraSmallflower touchmenotAnnual1.0 0-0  LMHSNM222
Impatiens sulcata Annual1.5 -  LMHSNM20 
Impatiens textori Annual0.6 -  LMHSNMWe10 
Impatiens tingens Annual0.6 -  LMHSNM10 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Nutt.

Botanical References

43

Links / References

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