Grooved balsam, Gigantic Himalayan balsam
Impatiens sulcata

Family: Balsaminaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It grows to about 1 m high. The leaves are opposite and stalked. The tip is pointed and there are teeth around the edge. The flowers are pink.

There are about 850 Impatiens species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. In Nepal it grows between 1700-4000 m altitude. It grows in shaded moist places. It grows between 3,000-4,000 m altitude in Xizang (Tibet).

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Kashmir, Nepal, Pakistan, Tibet

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten fresh. The seeds are pickled.

The seeds are especially eaten by children.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Cao jing feng xian hua, Halva, Mujero, Tong qia

Synonyms

Impatiens gigantea Edgew. (1846), not Arnott (1835);