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Impatiens pallida Nutt.

Yellow jewelweed

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassRosidaeRoses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
OrderGeranialesBalsams, mustards, geraniums, wood sorrels, nasturtiums, others
FamilyBalsaminaceaeBalsam family, mostly impatiens
GenusImpatiensLatin for “impatient,” a reference to the exploding fruits
SpeciespallidaPale

About plant names...

Yellow jewelweed is a North American native plant. Im­patiens means “impatient,” a reference to the fact that dried seed capsules burst open when touched. Pallida means "pale," because these flowers are pale compared to those of the closely related species spotted jewelweed. They prefer regions that are at least seasonally wet and partially shaded, such as creek beds or damp soils. Spotted and yellow jewelweed prefer similar habitats and are often found close to each other.

Plants: 3-5′ (1-1.5 m) high, with translucent and rather fragile stems.

Leaves: Leaves are bluish-green, oval-shaped, with shallow teeth, 1½-3 ⨉ ½-1¼″ (3.8-7.6 ⨉ 1.3-3.2 cm).

Flowers: Flowers occur in clusters of one to three, appearing from July to September. Viewed from the side, flowers are shaped a bit like a horn of plenty, yellow or pale yellow, with two large lower petals and one upper petal. There are usually a few red-brown spots within the throat of the flower, but none elsewhere. Each flower is about ¾″ (1.9 cm) in size.

Fruits: The seed pods, about ¾-1¼″ (1.9-3.2 cm) long, spread their seeds by drying into a spring-loaded form that pops upon contact.

These are closely similar:

 

Impatiens pallida (yellow jewelweed)

8/9/2010 · Keyes Farm, Nashoba Conservation Trust, Elm St., Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 11 × 7″ (28 × 18 cm)

Impatiens pallida (yellow jewelweed)

8/9/2010 · Keyes Farm, Nashoba Conservation Trust, Elm St., Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 5 × 3″ (12 × 8.4 cm)

Impatiens pallida (yellow jewelweed)

8/9/2010 · Keyes Farm, Nashoba Conservation Trust, Elm St., Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 5 × 3″ (12 × 8.4 cm)

 
Impatiens capensis
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Impatiens pallida
Common Name

spotted jewelweed

yellow jewelweed
Plant 3-5′ (1-1.5 m) high, with translucent and rather fragile stems. 3-5′ (1-1.5 m) high, with translucent and rather fragile stems.
Flowers Flowers occur in clusters of one to three. Viewed from the side, flowers are shaped a bit like a horn of plenty, yellow, with two large lower petals and one upper petal, with spots or patches of red-orange. Each flower is about ¾″ (1.9 cm) in size. They may appear orange rather than yellow from the front. Flowers occur in clusters of one to three, appearing from July to September. Viewed from the side, flowers are shaped a bit like a horn of plenty, yellow or pale yellow, with two large lower petals and one upper petal. There are usually a few red-brown spots within the throat of the flower, but none elsewhere. Each flower is about ¾″ (1.9 cm) in size.
Leaves Bluish-green, oval-shaped, with shallow teeth, about 4″ (10 cm) × 1¾″ (5 cm). Bluish-green, oval-shaped, with shallow teeth, about 1½-3″ (3.8-7.6 cm) × ½-1¼″ (1.3-3.2 cm).
Fruit The seed pods, about ¾-1¼″ (1.9-3.2 cm) long, spread their seeds by drying into a spring-loaded form that pops upon contact, delighting children. The seed pods, about ¾-1¼″ (1.9-3.2 cm) long, spread their seeds by drying into a spring-loaded form that pops upon contact.
Range/ Zones

Habitats Moist ground, low woods, slopes, stream banks, ravines. Spotted and yellow jewelweed prefer similar habitats and are often found close to each other. Regions that are at least seasonally wet and partially shaded, such as creek beds or damp soils. Spotted and yellow jewelweed prefer similar habitats and are often found close to each other.
Type Wild Wild
Occurrence Common; invasive in some areas  

 

Medical: Yellow jewelweed is believed by many to have mild antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties, but see the article on spotted jewelweed, which is much more effective.

Online References:

Missouriplants.com

Www.jeffpippen.com

Hort.net

Illinois Wildflowers

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

CalPhotos

Maine.gov’s Department of Conservation Maine Natural Areas Program

Impatiens pallida (yellow jewelweed)

8/9/2010 · Keyes Farm, Nashoba Conservation Trust, Elm St., Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 17 cm)

 

Impatiens pallida description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 7 Sep 2023.

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Impatiens pallida (yellow jewelweed)

8/9/2010 · Keyes Farm, Nashoba Conservation Trust, Elm St., Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 10 cm)

Range:

About this map...