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Flower and seed pod
Impatiens capensis
Common Name of Species: Spotted
Touch-Me-Not
Family: Balsaminaceae
Description: Spotted touch-me-not are easily identified by their cornucopia shaped flower heads, which are a bright orange with rusty red colored spots. Often grow in colonies.
Leaves: Leaves are 1 ½ - 3 ½ long, are thin, ovate shaped, with a soft waxy texture. Underside is distinctly paler than top.
Flowers: 1 inch long. Calyx with 3 sepals, 1 sepal same color as petals and forming a sharply spurred sac, ¼ inch long, 2 sepals green; corolla with 5 petals each side pair united and appearing as a single petal. (Audubon)
Stem: Stems are translucent and succulent, exuding juices when broken.
Branching Pattern: Leaves grow alternately on stem.
Height: 2-5 feet tall
Conditions/Habitat: Shaded wetlands and woods.
Range: Common across northeastern and north-central North America.
References:
Niering, W.A., Olmstead, N.C, & Thieret, J.W. (2001). National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers Eastern Region (Revised Edition). New York: Random House Inc.
Newcomb, Lawrence (1977). Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. New York: Little, Brown.
McKenny, M. & Peterson R.T. (1996). Peterson Field Guides: Wildflowers Northeastern/ North-central North America. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
USDA, NRCS (2004). Plants Database, Version 3.05 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874 USA.
