Rose Balsam, Spotted snapweed, Touch-Me-Not, Garden Balsam

Impatiens balsamina

Physical Characteristics

Impatiens balsamina is a ANNUAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a medium rate. It is frost tender. 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 and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

E. Asia - China, India, Malaya.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Oil Seed Shoots Edible Uses: Oil Leaves and young shoots - cooked[177, 179]. Seed - raw or cooked[177]. They are difficult to collect in quantity, mainly because of their exploding seed capsules which scatter the ripe seed at the slightest touch[K].

Medicinal Uses

Antibiotic Cancer Cathartic Diuretic Emetic Expectorant Poultice Tonic Warts The plant is cathartic, diuretic and emetic[240]. It is used in the treatment of pains in the joints[240]. The leaf juice is used as a treatment against warts[218]. The flowers are cooling, mucilaginous and tonic[240, 272]. They are useful when applied to burns and scalds[240]. The juice of the flowers is used to treat snakebites[272]. The flowers, and their alcoholic extract, possess marked antibiotic activity against some pathogenic fungi and bacteria[240]. The seed is expectorant and has been used in the treatment of cancer[218]. The powdered seeds are given to women during labour in order to provide strength[272].

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].