Practical
Plants

Impatiens pallida

Pale Jewelweed

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
1.5 m
Spread
0.6 m
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[7].

Edible uses

Young leaves and shoots - cooked[10]. Added to sukiyaki, chow mein and other oriental dishes[3]. When used as a vegetable on their own the cooking water should be changed once or twice during the cooking[3]. Some caution is advised, see the notes on toxicity at the top of the record. Seed[10]. No more details are given but the seeds are difficult to harvest in quantity, 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.

The whole plant is diuretic, emetic and purgative[7]. It is only used externally, the soothing and medicinal sap is a proven remedy for nettle stings and poison ivy rash[10][5][6][7][8] and is also used in the treatment of warts, corns, ringworm and haemorrhoids[7].

Product or use
Skin
Product or use
Stings

Material uses

A fungicide is obtained from the plant. It is used to treat skin diseases[10]. There are no more details but it is probably obtained from the fresh juice of the plant and can be concentrated by boiling up the juice.

Product or use
Fungicide

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Newfoundland to Saskatchewan, south to Georgia.
Habitat
Moist woodland and wet meadows, usually on calcareous soils[9].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
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[4]. The plant is hardy to about -5°c[7]. It should be possible to grow it as a spring-sown annual in most parts of Britain. 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].

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.

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  3. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

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

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  5. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

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  6. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  8. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

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  9. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

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  10. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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