Practical
Plants

Impatiens occidentalis

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

Regular ingestion of large quantities of these plants can be dangerous due to their high mineral content[2]. 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[4].

Edible uses

Young shoots - cooked in one change of water[2]. See the notes above on toxicity. Seed - raw or cooked[2]. They are tedious to collect in quantity[2], mainly because of their exploding seed capsules which scatter the ripe seed at the slightest touch[K].

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

Antidote, parasiticide. Used in the treatment of warts, ringworm, nettle stings, poison ivy rash etc[2].

Product or use
Antidote
Product or use
Parasiticide
Product or use
Stings
Product or use
Warts

Material uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the plant[2]. No more details are given. Used as a hair rinse for itchy scalps[2]. No more details are given. A fungicide is obtained from the plant[2]. No more details are given, but it is likely to be the juice of the plant that is used.

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Fungicide
Product or use
Hair care

Environment

Range
Western N. America.
Habitat
Moist woods[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

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.

Cultivation

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[3]. 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]. This species is probably part of I. noli-tangere[5].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  3. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

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  4. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

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  5. Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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