BALSAMINACE^-TOUCH-ME-NOT FAMILY 



GARDEN BALSAM 



Impatiens halsdmina. 



Impatiens, named from the sudden bursting of the pod when 

 touched. 



An erect, half -succulent annual, long since introduced from India and 

 now widely cultivated for its showy flowers. 



Stem. — Erect, low, leafy. 



Leaves. — Lanceolate, crowded, the l6wer opposite. 



Flowers. — Clustered in the axils of the leaves on very short stalks. 



Sepals. — Similarly colored and not easily distinguished, one of the 

 sepals, of which there seem to be three, long-spurred. 



Petals. — Apparently three. 



Stamens. — Five, anthers cohering. 



Ovary. — Five-celled ; stigma five- 

 toothed. 



Capsule. — Explosive, of five united 

 carpels with very thin partitions; when 

 ripe a pinch or concussion will cause 

 the valves to separate and contract, 

 throwing the seeds with considerable 

 force. 



Balsam. Impcitiens balsdmina 



The Common Balsam is a blood- 

 brother of the Impatiens of our 

 shaded ravines and cool brook-sides. 



It was brought from India into England before 1596, became at 

 once a favorite, and has since been developed into many garden 

 forms. The flowers of the type were single and rose-red, but 

 under cultivation very double blossoms have been produced, 

 ranging in color through white to various reds and yellows. 

 The full-double blossoms are known as the camellia-flowered 



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