Impatiens parviflora aka Balsam

Impatiens parviflora belongs to the balsam family, Balsaminaceae. People call it small balsam or smallflower touchmenot. It is native to Central Asia, southwestern Siberia, and Mongolia. Records also place it in Afghanistan and northwestern China. It grows in temperate regions, which have a mild climate. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. In England, it grows in woods and shaded waste ground. Most records of these sites come from the south and east.

The plant grows about 3.3 feet [1 metre] tall. It is an annual: its life cycle takes one year. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects carry pollen between the flowers. The seed capsules, or pods, burst as the seeds ripen. This throws the seeds some way from the plant. Even pods that are not ripe can burst when touched. Ripe pods shed their seeds at the slightest touch. This makes the seeds hard to gather.

It suits light shade in woods and at their edges. It can grow without shade, too. It prefers cool sites with moist soil rich in humus. It likes soil that drains well but also grows in heavy clay. It can grow in sand, loam, and clay. The soil can be slightly acid, neutral, or slightly alkaline. These traits suit it to moist woodland gardens. PFAF describes sowing seeds under glass in spring. The young plants then grow in their own pots. They stay there until ready to plant outdoors in summer.

PFAF lists leaves, young shoots, and seeds as edible. It describes cooking young shoots and changing the water once. People can eat the seeds raw or cooked. Yet it takes time to gather enough seeds. PFAF warns against eating large amounts of these foods often. It links this warning to their high mineral content. The proposed link to calcium oxalate is not certain. People prone to kidney stones or gout should take care. This warning also covers those prone to related complaints. The record does not show that casual handling poses a risk.

Folk uses include treating warts, ringworm, and nettle stings. PFAF also notes use for poison ivy rash. These are reports of past use, not proof that treatments work. The plant yields a yellow dye, too. Other recorded uses include a rinse for an itchy scalp. They also include a product meant to kill fungi. The source says little about how to make or use these products.