Orange Balsam
This is Impatiens capensis, also called spotted touch-me-not, or orange balsam, and it exists on the Wilden Marsh island. This plant was transported to England, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Finland, and potentially other areas of northern and central Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries, and is native to North America. Orange balsam is a traditional remedy for skin rashes.
Orange balsam is a naturalised invasive species which has no conservation value within the British flora. The plant is designated as having little or no economic or ecological impact by the Environment Agency and UK Water Framework Directive.
Love the touch me nots, there are Many in South western Ontario Canada
There are very few on Wilden Marsh, Doug.
Wonderful shots. I too know them as touch me nots here in Eastern Ontario.
Thank you. Do you know how they became to be called touch-me-nots, Belinda?
They are related to some carnivorous plant families, so I guess the name is pretty apt!
I heard that the name ‘touch-me-not’ derives from the flowers quickly wilting if touched.
Poor plant, neither useful nor interesting enough to be a nuisance.
It means I can keep it, though. 🙂
I’m pleased to have a balsam plant on the marsh that I don’t have to eradicate. I think orange blossom is prettier than the Himalayan variety.
It is pretty 🙂