Himalayan Balsam

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Himalayan balsam
• glandular touch-me-not
• ornamental jewelweed
• policeman's helmet
• purple jewelweed
• Indian Balsam
• policeman's-helmet

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Impatiens roylei var. candida
• Impatiens sulcata var. glandulifera
• Impatiens roylei var. moschata
• Balsamina roylei
• Impatiens macrochila
• Impatiens roylei var. macrochila
• Impatiens glandulifera f. pallidiflora
• Impatiens glanduligera
• Impatiens moschata
• Impatiens roylei f. albida
• Impatiens candida
• Impatiens roylei var. pallidiflora
• Impatiens royleana
• Balsamina macrochila

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Impatiens glandulifera, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Ericales and the family Balsaminaceae. Its specific taxonomic designation is placed within the genus Impatiens.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several regions within Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Denmark. Additionally, its presence extends to the northern territories of Finland and Norway. The species is also well-established throughout the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Together, these locations define its primary geographical range in the northern part of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Impatiens glandulifera is characterized by its preference for specific environmental niches, primarily occupying open roadsides and managed riparian wetlands where moisture levels are consistently high. These habitats provide the damp, nutrient-rich soil conditions necessary for its rapid growth and proliferation. In terms of its underground biological associations, this species does not form mycorrhizal relationships, meaning it lacks a symbiotic dependency on mycorrhizae for nutrient uptake, which distinguishes its physiological strategy from many other woodland or wetland flora.

Habitat :

open roadsides managed riparian wetland

Mycorrhiza :

no

Life history

The life history of Impatiens glandulifera is characterized by its existence as an annual therophyte, meaning it completes its entire developmental cycle from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, the plant survives the unfavorable dormant season primarily through its seeds rather than through persistent vegetative structures. Throughout its active growth phase, the species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as the environmental conditions shift. This rapid life cycle allows it to efficiently exploit available resources in its habitat before the onset of seasonal changes.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Impatiens glandulifera is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a liana, maintaining an erect shoot orientation. The plant is independent, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte, and it thrives in terrestrial habitats. In terms of stature, it exhibits significant variation in plant height, ranging from a minimum of 0.6 m to a maximum of 2.5 m, with an average height of approximately 1.25 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2.5 m

Plant height mean:

1.25 m

Plant height min:

0.6 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Impatiens glandulifera is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which is typical for many temperate herbaceous species. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrient availability. Its foliar morphology is defined by a mean leaf width of 4 cm, with both minimum and maximum measurements remaining consistent at 4 cm, while the leaf length can reach a maximum of 15 cm. This results in a mean leaf size of 119.1 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 383 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf thickness and resource allocation strategies during growth.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf size mean:

119.1 cm²

Leaf width mean:

4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

383 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Impatiens glandulifera is characterized by a strictly sexual process, as both asexual reproduction and self-fertilization are absent. The flowering period is concentrated in the summer months, specifically starting in July and concluding in August. The plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, relying primarily on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule. This fruit is dehiscent, meaning it opens at maturity to release its contents. The dispersal strategy is categorized as autochorous, involving a self-dispersal mechanism. The resulting seeds are quite uniform in size, with a consistent mean length of 4 mm (ranging from a minimum of 4 mm to a maximum of 4 mm). These seeds are lightweight, with a mean mass of 0.011906 g, though individual seed mass can vary from a minimum of 0.00732 g to a maximum of 0.01347 g.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length mean:

4 mm

Seed mass max:

0.01347 g

Seed mass mean:

0.011906 g

Seed mass min:

0.00732 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Impatiens glandulifera has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Chemicals

Impatiens glandulifera has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Naphthoquinones, Steroids, Terpenoids.

Flavonoids

1. The Science of the total environment

Naphthoquinones

1. The Science of the total environment

Steroids

1. The Science of the total environment

Terpenoids

1. The Science of the total environment

Activities

Impatiens glandulifera has 5 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Allelopathic, Anticancer, Antidepressant, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Allelopathic

1. The Science of the total environment

Anticancer

1. The Science of the total environment

Antidepressant

1. The Science of the total environment

Antimicrobial

1. The Science of the total environment

Antioxidant

1. The Science of the total environment

Medicinal Uses

Impatiens glandulifera has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antidepressant, antioxidant.

Most Reported Uses