There are lots of types of balsam. Not only most gardeners, but also many walkers and nature lovers have become more and more familiar with balsam in recent years. It is considered a weed and is controlled.
What does a jewelweed look like and where does it come from?
The jewelweed belongs to the balsamine family, is an annual, comes from Central Asia and grows upright up to 2 m high. It has lanceolate, toothed leaves, fragrant, pink-grapelike flowers and edible brown-black seeds.
A panoramic look at the characteristics of jewelweed
- Plant family: Balsamine family
- Lifespan: one year
- Origin: Central Asia (especially East India)
- Growth: upright, up to 2 m high
- Leaves: lanceolate, serrated, green
- Flowers: grape-like, pink, fragrant
- Fruits: capsule fruits
- Seeds: brown-black, spherical, edible
- Location: sunny to shady
- Soil: nutrient-rich, moist
- Care: no care necessary
- Propagation: self-sowing
- Special features: neophyte, poisonous, rich nectar supply
It is often found there
Impatiens - as the jewelweed is also called - prefers to inhabit moist locations. It also copes easily with wet substrates. It prefers nutrient-rich soils. You can find the balsam in damp forests, in parks, on bank areas, on roadsides and on wasteland.
External appearance: This is what makes the jewelweed special
Upright, well-branched stems emerge from the flat root system. The stems are round in cross section and their color is pale green. The leaf stalks have ovate leaves up to 25 cm long. They are toothed on the edge and are arranged oppositely to whorled around the stems, which can be up to 2 m high.
Of the flowers
The 2.5 to 4 cm long pharyngeal flowers make the Indian balsam a pretty ornamental plant. They are racemose inflorescences that consist of up to 15 individual flowers. These have a strong, sweet smell and are pink to white in color. The flowering period lasts from June to October.
The fruits and seeds
The fruits also look interesting. They are capsule fruits. They grow to 1.4 to 1.8 cm (less often up to 5 cm) in size. There are up to 15 seeds in each capsule fruit. The seeds are 3 mm small and black-brown. As soon as the seeds are ripe, the capsules burst open explosively. The seeds are shot up to 7 m.
Tip
The seeds of the jewelweed are ripe in autumn. They are edible and delicious. Its aroma is mild and nutty.