THE GENUS IMPATIENS. 
491 
India, and requiring treatment similar to the 
other species from the same districts. 
Impatiens longicornu (Long-horned Im- 
patiens, or, Touch-me-not).— This is an erect, 
branched annual species, with linear -lanceolate 
elongated leaves, tapering to both ends, and 
flowers in axillary racemes. The flowers are 
yellow and fragrant. It is also called Impatiens 
odorata, I. picta, and I. leptoceras. It is a 
native of Nepal, and other parts of India. 
Impatiens triflora (the three-flowered 
Impatiens, or, Touch-me-not). — This is a 
Ceylon species, with long linear-lanceolate 
leaves. It has pale red flowers. It may be 
raised in a hot-bed, and planted out in the 
open ground, as a half-hardy annual. 
Impatiens tripetala (the three-petalled 
Impatiens, or, Touch-me-not). — This species 
is found in Nepal, Sylhet, and other parts of 
India. It is a frame or half-hardy annual. 
It has oval-pointed leaves, situated opposite 
and ternate on the stem, and furnished with 
toothed margins. The flowers are large, of a 
lively red colour, tinged with yellow, and the 
plants have a pretty appearance when inblossom. 
Impatiens discolor (the two-coloured 
Impatiens, or, Touch-me-not) — .A native of 
Nepal, with smooth ovate leaves, and yellow 
flowers. It is an annual of dwarf growth. 
Impatiens parviflora (Small-flowered Im- 
patiens, or, Touch-me-not). — A mere weed; a 
native of Siberia. It grows about two feet high 
with a branching succulent stem, alternate 
ovate leaves, and minute yellow flowers, spotted 
with red, produced in bunches, on long foot- 
stalks, above the foliage. It is an annual plant. 
Impatiens coccinea (Red-flowered Impa- 
tiens, or, Touch-me-not). — A native of the 
East Indies, introduced many years ago, and 
probably lost. It has oblong oval serrated 
leaves, the stalks of which are furnished with 
numerous glands. The flowers are red, and 
are produced from the axils of the leaves, the 
most conspicious portion being two broad seg- 
ments which form the lower part of the flower. 
It is said to grow about two feet in height, 
but this is probably less than its real size. 
Impatiens natans (the floating Impatiens, 
or, Touch-me-not). — This is a stove water- 
plant,or aquatic, very handsome when in flower, 
but very seldom met with. It has a piped stem 
floating in the water, and emitting roots from 
the joints. The parts that rise above the sur- 
face are erect and branching, rising two feet or 
more in height. The leaves are linear-lanceolate, 
alternate, and serrated. The flowers are large, 
beautifully variegated with red, white, and 
yellow. It is a native of the East Indies, 
growing in ponds and ditches of sweet water. 
It is an annual, flowering in July and August. 
Impatiens cristata (the crested Impatiens, 
or, Touch-me-not). — This annual species is a 
native of Chinese Tartary. It grows two or 
three feet high, with pubescent purplish stems, 
and lanceolate acuminated leaves. The flowers 
are yellow, with minute purple spots. 
Impatiens scAPiFLORA(Stemless Impatiens, 
or, Touch-me-not). — A dwarf stove perennial, 
inhabiting Bombay and Ceylon; from the for- 
mer place it was imported, some years since, 
and introduced to the Glasgow Botanic Garden. 
The plant produces tuberous roots, in the way 
of some species of Begonia, and the leaves, 
which are heart-shaped, and smooth, bear con- 
siderable resemblance to some of those of that 
family ; they rise from the root, — in other 
words, they are such as botanists term radical, 
in consequence of their proceeding from the 
radix, or root. The flower-stem, or scape, 
rises ten inches or a foot high, and produces 
six or eight large, delicate purple-rose, or 
pale lilac, coloured flowers, of a very peculiar 
form. It is called Impatiens bulbosa, and I. 
acaulis, as well as the name above given, and 
is a very handsome and interesting plant, re- 
quiring hot-house cultivation, and flowering in 
August and September. 
The species of Impatiens consist of hardy 
and tender annuals, stove aquatics, and peren- 
nials. Some of those properly classed as 
tender annuals, admit of being cultivated as 
half-hardy annuals. 
TREATMENT OF THE HARDY ANNUAL SPECIES. 
The plants comprised in this division, can 
scarcely be regarded as more than weeds in a 
garden, or they may be cultivated very spar- 
ingly as objects of curiosity on account of 
the peculiarity possessed by the seed-vessels. 
While, however, it is maintained that, as flori- 
cultural objects, they are not to be regarded as 
being attractive, yet, on close inspection, 
they will be found to be highly beautiful both 
in structure and colouring ; and therefore, 
with this particular view, a plant or two of 
each may be grown. When once introduced to 
a garden, they are with difficulty entirely re- 
moved, as the scattered seeds, of which great 
numbers are borne by a plant, are deposited in 
the soil in all directions, and continue to grow 
up year after year, generally so numerous as to 
cover the surface of the ground. One way, 
therefore, of having quite a sufficient number 
of plants of these is to retain one or two of 
the seedlings, which are thus produced ; and 
this may always be done after the plants have 
been one year cultivated. In other cases, the 
seeds may be sown in the open ground in 
March or April, just in the same way as other 
hardy annuals. They prefer a moist situation; 
but, if the ground is very rich, they are liable to 
grow too strong, and produce large leaves, and 
less than their ordinary proportion of flowers. 
If a moderately free-growth can be secured, it 
