garden balsam

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Balsam
• garden balsam
• rose balsam
• touch-me-not

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is categorized under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Ericales, specifically falling into the family Balsaminaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Impatiens.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several distinct regions of the European continent. In Middle Europe, its distribution is notable within the countries of Austria, Germany, and the Czechia-Slovakia region. Moving toward the Mediterranean, the species can also be found throughout Southwestern Europe, specifically in France. Additionally, its range extends into Southeastern Europe, where it is documented in Albania. Collectively, these locations highlight the plant's ability to inhabit diverse European landscapes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Impatiens balsamina is characterized by its adaptability to a wide range of altitudes, thriving in environments spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to an elevation of 2600 m AMSL. While it can exist across these diverse altitudinal gradients, its primary ecological presence is observed within anthropogenic landscapes, specifically being widely cultivated in gardens. This preference for managed habitats suggests that its distribution is heavily influenced by human cultivation and horticultural practices rather than strictly wild ecological niches.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Cultivated in gardens.

Life history

The life history of Impatiens balsamina is characterized by its status as an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire developmental cycle—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season. Functionally, it is classified as a therophyte, a life form defined by plants that survive the unfavorable season as ephemeral seeds, rapidly establishing themselves once environmental conditions become suitable. This lifecycle allows the species to exploit transient periods of moisture and warmth, ensuring that it can quickly colonize available habitats before completing its reproductive phase.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Impatiens balsamica is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a self-supporting, terrestrial plant that does not function as a climber or an epiphyte, nor does it act as a parasite, remaining entirely independent in its growth. The plant exhibits an erect shoot orientation and typically reaches a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.6 m, with a mean height of approximately 0.525 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height mean:

0.525 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Impatiens balsamica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation process through the direct carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate by the enzyme RuBisCO. This metabolic strategy implies that the plant is most efficient in temperate or shaded environments where photorespiration can be minimized. In terms of water storage and morphological adaptation, the plant does not exhibit succulence, meaning it lacks specialized thickened tissues designed for significant internal water sequestration, making it more reliant on consistent soil moisture. Furthermore, it does not function as a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, relying instead on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the surrounding substrate to support its nitrogen requirements for protein and nucleic acid synthesis.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Impatiens balsamina is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering cycle and a biotic pollination strategy. The flowering period typically begins in July and concludes in August, though the timing can be variable. The plant relies on biotic pollination, specifically utilizing an insect-based pollination syndrome to facilitate fertilization. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds with a relatively small mass; the mean seed mass is approximately 0.0086375 g, with individual seed weights ranging from a minimum of 0.00701 g to a maximum of 0.01051 g. Regarding the movement of its progeny, the species exhibits an anthropochorous dispersal syndrome, indicating that its seeds are spread through human activity.

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.01051 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0086375 g

Seed mass min:

0.00701 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Impatiens balsamina has 5 reported plant parts identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, seed, flower, root, stem.

Leaf

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
2. Frontiers in plant science
3. International journal of microbiology

Seed

1. Phytochemistry
2. Biochemistry

Flower

1. Frontiers in plant science

Root

1. Frontiers in plant science

Stem

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Chemicals

Impatiens balsamina has 22 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Lawsone, 2-Hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, 2-Methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, 2-methoxy-1,4-napthoquinone.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Lawsone

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

2-Hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

2-Methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

2-methoxy-1,4-napthoquinone

1. Dr. Duke

Ag

1. International journal of microbiology

BALSAMINONE B

1. Dr. Duke

Balsaminone A

1. Dr. Duke

Coumarins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hosenkoside L

1. Phytochemistry

Activities

Impatiens balsamina has 9 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antipruritic, Antimicrobial, Allelochemic, Anthelmintic, Antiallergic.

Antipruritic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Biochemistry

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Anthelmintic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiallergic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antidermatitic

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antitumor

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Pesticide

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Impatiens balsamina has 9 reported investigations on conditions identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include atopic dermatitis, bruises, carbuncles, dermatitis, dysentery.

Atopic dermatitis

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Bruises

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Carbuncles

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dermatitis

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Dysentery

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Foot diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Pruritus

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Rheumatism

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Scurvy

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Impatiens balsamina has 6 reported preparations identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include seeds, aqueous extracts of fresh leaves, leaf samples, leaves, stems.

Seeds

1. Phytochemistry
2. Biochemistry

Aqueous extracts of fresh leaves

1. International journal of microbiology

Leaf samples

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Leaves

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Stems

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Water and aqueous methanolic extracts

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB