small touch-me-not

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• small touch-me-not
• small-flowered jewelweed
• small-flowered touch-me-not
• Small Balsam
• balsam
• small-flower touch-me-not
• Jumping-Betty
• Lesser Balsam
• Smallflower Touch-Me-Not

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Impatiens parviflora subsp. nevskii
• Impatiens nevskii
• Balsamina parviflora

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and order Ericales, it is a member of the family Balsaminaceae. Finally, it is specifically identified by the genus Impatiens.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific range of occurrence within the northern regions of Europe. Its presence is documented across several countries, including Denmark and Finland. Additionally, the species can be found throughout the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. The distribution also extends further north into the territory of Sweden. Together, these locations define the primary geographical footprint of Impatiens parviflora in this part of the world.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Impatiens parviflora is characterized by its preference for shaded, moisture-rich forest environments. This species thrives within forest habitats, where the canopy provides the necessary light conditions and humidity levels for its growth. Its distribution is vertically constrained to specific montane zones, occupying an elevational range that begins at 1400 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 2800 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1400 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest

Life history

The life history of Impatiens parviflora is characterized by its existence as an annual plant, completing its entire developmental cycle within a single growing season. As a therophyte, it survives unfavorable conditions primarily through the production of seeds rather than maintaining persistent vegetative structures. This species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as it reaches the end of its life cycle. Its biological strategy is defined by this therophytic life form, allowing it to colonize seasonal environments efficiently before returning to a seed state.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Impatiens parviflora is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It functions as an independent organism, neither a parasite nor an epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial existence. The plant is self-supporting rather than a climber, exhibiting an erect shoot orientation. In terms of stature, it is a relatively small plant with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 0.6 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.458 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:

0.458 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Impatiens parviflora is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common mechanism for plants in its ecological niche that allows for carbon fixation through the Calvin cycle. The plant exhibits a relatively large leaf morphology, with a mean leaf size of 46.75 cm², which supports its light-harvesting capabilities. Furthermore, it possesses a high Specific Leaf Area (SLA) with a mean value of 1480.1 cm²/g, indicating a high degree of leaf thinness and a strategy optimized for rapid light interception and gas exchange. Regarding its nutritional strategy, Impatiens parviflora is non-carnivorous, relying entirely on its root system and soil nutrients for mineral uptake rather than capturing prey.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

46.75 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

1480.1 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Impatiens parviflora is characterized by a sexual process, as both asexual reproduction and self-fertilization are notably absent. The flowering period typically commences in June and concludes in August. This reproductive cycle relies on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing insects, with bees identified as a key pollinator. Following successful fertilization, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule. This fruit is dehiscent, facilitating the dispersal of seeds through an autochorous (autochorous) mechanism. The seeds produced are quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.0073131665 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00691 g to a maximum of 0.009 g.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.009 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0073131665 g

Seed mass min:

0.00691 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Impatiens parviflora 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 root.

Root

1. Natural product research

Chemicals

Impatiens parviflora has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include IPS 1, MGDG-1.

IPS 1

1. Natural product research

MGDG-1

1. Natural product research

Conditions

Impatiens parviflora has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include protein denaturation, rheumatoid arthritis.

Protein denaturation

1. Natural product research

Rheumatoid arthritis

1. Natural product research

Preparations

Impatiens parviflora has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanolic extract, roots.

Methanolic extract

1. Natural product research

Roots

1. Natural product research