Impatiens capensis
Paul Jackson
Spotted Jewelweed is a
tall, leafy plant. It grows up to five feet tall. Leaves are thin and grow
over three inches long. Underneath, they are very pale. When
leaves are underwater, they look silvery. Stems are
translucent (you can see light through them). Spotted Jewelweed grows
in wetlands, especially in the shade. Often it grows in
dense
stands
(many jewelweed plants together). This plant is an
annual,
so it only lives for one year. Spotted Jewelweed flowers
are golden-orange with red splotches. Each flower is about
an inch long. This plant blooms from July to
October. Hugh Wilson Hugh Wilson Spotted Jewelweed fruits
are long pods.
Pressure builds up inside the pods, until they reach the
point where they explode when touched. Jewelweed depends on
animals to brush against it so this can happen and seeds can
launch to a great enough distance to grow a new
plant. The exploding pods have
earned this plant the nickname "Touch-me-not." While this plant needs
moisture to grow, it often grows alongside another plant
that grows just about anywhere: Poison Ivy. The sap of
jewelweed is even used to relieve itching from Poison Ivy
rashes. Hugh H. Iltis, Wisconsin
State Herbarium
Delaware Wildflowers
