Impatiens capensis (Spotted jewelweed)

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Impatiens capensis Meerb.

Spotted jewelweed, jewelweed

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Rosidae	Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order	Geraniales	Balsams, mustards, geraniums, wood sorrels, nasturtiums, others
Family	Balsaminaceae	Balsam family, mostly impatiens
Genus	Impatiens	Latin for “impatient,” a reference to the exploding fruits
Species	capensis	“Of the cape”

About plant names...

Spotted jewelweed is a North American native plant. Impatiens means “impatient,” a reference to the fact that dried seed capsules burst open when touched. Capensis means "of the cape," because the botanist who named it, Nicolaas Meerburgh, believed incorrectly that the species was native to the Cape of Good Hope in Africa. The plants are common and, in some areas, invasives. They prefer regions that are at least seasonally wet and partially shaded, such as creek beds or damp soils. Spotted and yellow jewelweed prefer similar habitats and are often found close to each other.

Plants: 3-5' (1-1.5 m) high, with translucent and rather fragile stems.

Leaves: Bluish-green, oval-shaped, with shallow teeth, about 4" (10 cm) × 1¾" (5 cm).

Flowers: Flowers occur in clusters of one to three. Viewed from the side, flowers are shaped a bit like a horn of plenty, yellow, with two large lower petals and one upper petal, with spots or patches of red-orange. Each flower is about ¾" (1.9 cm) in size. They may appear orange rather than yellow from the front.

Fruits: The seed pods, about ¾-1¼" (1.9-3.2 cm) long, spread their seeds by drying into a spring-loaded form that pops upon contact, delighting children.

Medical: Spotted jewelweed has long been used as a preventative for poison ivy rash. Juice from the crushed plant is applied to the site that has been exposed. We examined many articles to learn a bit more about its efficacy:

Some sources suggest that the crushed stems are best; others that stems, leaves and flowers can all be crushed together. If you have a choice, use stems only, from plants that haven't flowered yet.
The juice extract can be prepared in the field simply by rolling and crushing a handful of jewelweed between the hands, then applying the sap to the exposed skin.
Spotted jewelweed is uniformly considered to be much more effective than its close cousin, yellow jewelweed.
Most advocates believe that the jewelweed extract needs to be applied relatively quickly—within four hours, prior to the development of poison ivy blisters—but a few insist that it is helpful even when applied to blisters.
Controlled studies sometimes confirm jewelweed's effectiveness, but not always.
Everyone agrees that poison ivy is often found in places where jewelweed is present (for example, both occur in my back yard). But poison ivy also grows in places where jewelweed cannot, so there is no guarantee that you can find it.
Jewelweed extract can be included as an ingredient of soaps, available commercially; or frozen into ice cubes and saved for later.
Lawsone, a red-orange dye, may be the active ingredient that has antihistamine and anti-inflammatory effects.

What do we believe? It certainly won't do any harm: there aren't any reports of allergic reactions to jewelweed. So, given that spotted jewelweed is fairly often found near poison ivy, and that it is easy to prepare by rubbing between the hands, it is worth a try.

These are closely similar:

9/11/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 3 × 2½" (8.1 × 6.3 cm)

Immature seed pods · 9/13/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9.2 cm)

8/7/2017 · Groton Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 5 × 3" (12 × 8.4 cm)

Immature seed pods · 9/13/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 3½ × 2½" (9.8 × 6.6 cm)

Unusually dark coloration. · 8/22/2013 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 4 × 3" (10 × 8.5 cm)

	You are here Impatiens capensis	*Impatiens pallida*
Common Name	spotted jewelweed	yellow jewelweed
Plant	3-5' (1-1.5 m) high, with translucent and rather fragile stems.	3-5' (1-1.5 m) high, with translucent and rather fragile stems.
Flowers	Flowers occur in clusters of one to three. Viewed from the side, flowers are shaped a bit like a horn of plenty, yellow, with two large lower petals and one upper petal, *with spots or patches of red-orange*. Each flower is about ¾" (1.9 cm) in size. They may appear orange rather than yellow from the front.	Flowers occur in clusters of one to three, appearing from July to September. Viewed from the side, flowers are shaped a bit like a horn of plenty, *yellow or pale yellow*, with two large lower petals and one upper petal. There are usually a few red-brown spots within the throat of the flower, but none elsewhere. Each flower is about ¾" (1.9 cm) in size.
Leaves	Bluish-green, oval-shaped, with shallow teeth, about 4" (10 cm) × 1¾" (5 cm).	Bluish-green, oval-shaped, with shallow teeth, about 1½-3" (3.8-7.6 cm) × ½-1¼" (1.3-3.2 cm).
Fruit	The seed pods, about ¾-1¼" (1.9-3.2 cm) long, spread their seeds by drying into a spring-loaded form that pops upon contact, delighting children.	The seed pods, about ¾-1¼" (1.9-3.2 cm) long, spread their seeds by drying into a spring-loaded form that pops upon contact.
Range/ Zones
Habitats	Moist ground, low woods, slopes, stream banks, ravines. Spotted and yellow jewelweed prefer similar habitats and are often found close to each other.	Regions that are at least seasonally wet and partially shaded, such as creek beds or damp soils. Spotted and yellow jewelweed prefer similar habitats and are often found close to each other.
Type	Wild	Wild
Occurrence	Common; invasive in some areas