Spotted Touch-me-not

Impatiens capensis, also known as ‘jewelweed’ has orange flowers; its close relative called ‘pale touch-me-not’ (or ‘yellow jewelweed’) has yellow flowers. Both species grow in our region, but it is the orange petals of the spotted touch-me-not that most often present their “jewels” around Little Bass Lake July into September.

Plant height is 2 to 5 feet and can grow profusely in mounds of foliage dotted with flowers along riverbanks and lakeshores, preferring shade or sun and moist soil habitats. For information on the interesting sexual reproduction process of this species, please refer to more details given in the entry for pale touch-me-not.

If you find yourself with a skin rash, such as from poison ivy, and have no other recourse to skin balms that might alleviate the pain, don’t abandon ship. Turn to the balm of this plant’s healing leaves crushed and rubbed onto the skin — a simple and effective fix. The leaves contain a compound called ‘lawsone’, with anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory properties.

This beautiful flower gets its name from the fact that in autumn when the fruiting seed pods ripen and dry, they will explode at the slightest touch sending the seeds shooting out! Another lively way this plant can play upon the human imagination and encourage fun, hands on learning. So, actually, “yes, please do touch me”!