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Jewelweed
(Impatiens capensis Meerb.)
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Jewelweed
Where To Found It: Members of the genus Impatiens
are found widely distributed in the north temperate zone and in South
Africa, but the majority are natives of the mountains of tropical
Asia and Africa.
The flowers, purple, yellow, pink and white, sometimes a
showy scarlet, are spurred and irregular in form and are borne in
the leaf axils.
The name Impatiens is derived from the fact that the seed-pod,
when ripe, discharges the seeds by the elastic separation and uncoiling
of the valves.
Under the name of Jewelweed the herbage of Impatiens aurea
and of I. biflora are largely employed in domestic practice
and by homoeopaths and eclectics.
The plants are tall and branching, tender and delicate succulent
annuals, with swollen joints, growing in lowlying, damp, rather
rich soil, beside streams and in similar damp localities.
They are smooth and somewhat glaucous, the stems somewhat translucent,
the foliage showing a brilliant silvery surface when immersed in
water, which will not adhere to the surface.
The leaves are thin, ovate oval, more or less toothed, of a tender
green colour.
The slipper-shaped, yellow flowers, in bloom from July to September,
have long recurved tails, those of the first-named species being
of a uniform pale-yellow, those of the second species, orange-yellow,
crowded with dark spots, hence its common name of Spotted-touch-me-not.
The oblong capsules of both species when ripe explode under the
slightest disturbance, scattering the seeds widely. Most of the
popular names refer to this peculiarity, others to the shape of
the flowers.
Modern uses: The herbs have an acrid,
burning taste and act strongly as emetics, cathartics and diuretics,
but are considered dangerous, their use having been termed 'wholly
questionable.'
The chemical constituents are not known, though the leaves apparently
contain tannin, which causes them to be employed as an outward application
for piles, proving an excellent remedy, the freshly gathered plants
being boiled in lard and an ointment made of them.
The fresh juice of the herb appears to relieve cutaneous irritation
of various kinds, especially that due to Rhus poisoning.
Other Names: Wild Balsam. Balsam-weed.
Impatiens pallida. Pale-touch-me-not. Spottedtouch-me-not. Slipperweed.
Silverweed. Wild Lady's Slipper. Speckled Jewels. Wild Celandine.
Quick-in-the-hand.
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