Yellow flowered jewelweed, Pale touch-me-not, Pale jewelweed
Impatiens pallida
Family: Balsaminaceae
What it is like
A tall annual herb. It grows 60 cm to 1.5 m high. It spreads 30-60 cm wide. The stems are succulent and hairless. The leaves are grey-green and have coarse teeth. The flowers hang down and are yellow. They are in clusters in the axils of upper leaves. The fruit are long cylinder shaped capsules.
There are about 850 Impatiens species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows mainly in limestone regions. It is often on the banks of streams and ponds.
Countries/locations it is found in
North America (country/location of origin), USA
How it is used for food
The young shoots are simmered in boiling water for 5 minutes then added to Asian vegetable dishes. If eaten as a vegetable the cooking water should be changed a couple of times. They can then be served with butter or vinegar. Caution: It can cause diarrhoea and vomiting. It can contain oxalates.
Edible parts
Seeds, shoots, caution
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed.