(Beranium Jfamil^. 



Jewel- Weed. Impatiens fulva. 



Spotted Touch-me-not. 

 Lady's Ear-Drop. 

 Balsam. 



Found in moist and shaded places from July to September. 



This large, branching, leafy plant, from 1 to 3 or 4 feet in height, 

 is weak-fibred and juicy ; its stalk is slightly ribbed, and swollen at 

 the joints, very smooth, and a pale reddish-green. 



The large oval leaf, with its tapering tip and broad base, has a 

 wide midrib, a coarsely toothed margin, and a thin, weak texture ; the 

 surface is dull, and pale green, witli irresolute flecks of red near the 

 edges. The leaves are alternately placed, on short pale stems. 



The curious flower consists of a deep cornucopia-shaped pocket 

 terminating in a slender hook-like spur, and 5 petal-like parts ; the 

 texture is fine and smooth, and in color it is orange or red-orange, 

 thickly speckled with tawny-red dots, except the small curving side- 

 parts which are less strong in hue, and even tinged with green ; the 5 

 stamens are gathered in the mouth of the pocket, beneath the stem. 

 The flowers swing on slender foot-stems in small groups. 



Like all very juicy plants this wilts quickly when plucked. In 

 bud the wing-like side-parts enfold the pocket. When ripe the seed- 

 pods burst with a sudden snap that throws the seeds to a considerable 

 distance ; to this trait, and to the singular shape of the flower, are due 

 the particular favor in which children hold the plant, and afford occa- 

 sion, also, for the many by-names by which it is called, such as Snap- 

 Weed, Silver-Weed, Lady's Slipper, Lady's Pocket, and Kicking Colt. 



Pale Touch-me-not (I. pallida) is a light lemon-yellow variety, 

 very like I.fiihm, though the pocket of the flower is shorter, the spur 

 less curved, and it is not so numerously spotted. 



