Orange Jewelweed Facts
- This dazzling flora most frequently goes by the highly descriptive common name of the Orange Jewelweed across its range. The plant has several other alternate titles, as well, though. These include the terms orange balsam, common jewelweed, and the spotted touch-me-not.
- Within scientific circles, however, the Angiosperm is likely significantly better known by its official title. Fortunately for the layperson, that’s a relatively simple one to pronounce. That’s because this marvel of Nature and evolution holds the technical moniker Impatiens capensis.
- The beautiful plant received that simple name due to the efforts of the respected Dutch botanist, Nicolaas Meerburgh. He accomplished the first official recognition of it as a separate and distinct species. That scientifically noteworthy action occurred back in the year 1775.
- Pleasantly, the Orange Jewelweed seems to be maintaining a population base that’s both sufficient and stable. That fortunate situation also appears to hold true throughout the entirety of its territory. The IUCN thus currently lists it as Least Concern on its published Red List.
- Nevertheless, the beautiful creation of Nature faces some potential threats to its continued existence as a species, at least. Like many forms of life today, most of these dangers stem from the actions of humans. They include the perils of habitat loss and the effects of climate change.
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Orange Jewelweed Physical Description
The Orange Jewelweed almost always captures the attention of those individuals fortunate enough to encounter it. Unlike some herbaceous plants, though, it does so for several reasons. That’s due to the fact that it’s not only quite lovely to behold, but also attains a respectabe size for its kind.
Individual specimens do vary significantly in growth, though, largely due to differing local environmental conditions. As a general principle, however, the species ranges from between 3 – 5 ft (0.9 – 1.5 m) in height. A few specimens exceed this, of course, but rarely do so by any great amount.
The wonder of evolution produces thin, yet surprisingly sturdy vertical stems, typically with a distinctive semi-translucent appearance. These features also produce multiple smaller branches. Each of these portions of the plant additionally generally maintain a smooth texture to their surface.
Each example of the impressive Eudicot additionally produces numerous leaves. This interesting foliage generally reaches a length equaling as much as 5 in (13 cm) long and 2.5 in (6 cm) in width. Every leaf also typically possesses sharply serrated edges, and shows an extremely deep green shade.
Yet it’s the gorgeous blooms of the captivating Orange Jewelweed that most commonly attract the most attention from observers. These flowers usually present a brilliant orange hue. Some do, however, sometimes show a blood-orange shade, and even more rarely, a pale yellow color appears.
Its color also serves as the source of the principal common name. However, one of its alternates also stems from a remarkable trait of the plant, and a remarkable one at that. When touched, the leaves of the plant often close relatively quickly in response, thus the unusual name touch-me-not.
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Phylum: Tracheophytes
- Class: Eudicots
- Order: Ericales
- Family: Balsaminaceae
- Genus: Impatiens
- Species: I. capensis
Orange Jewelweed Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology
The visually appealing Orange Jewelweed developed as native to a relatively wide expanse of the globe. Within that natural range, it fits perfectly with the bountiful other botanical wonders. That’s because the marvelous Tracheophyte evolved as endemic to the continent of North America.
There, it inhabits virtually all of the eastern portions of the country of Canada. Southward, it also appears throughout most of the Northeastern and southern sections of the United States. That native range extends as far south as Georgia, and also as far west as the state of Oklahoma.
This elegantly beautiful flora also evolved astonishingly intriguing preferences in its choice of habitat. It primarily inhabits regions composed of shaded wetlands. Yet the flora additionally demonstrates relatively moderate adaptability in this specific regard when conditions necessitate it.
Due to that notable flexibility, it frequently appears in locations many might consider unlikely. These settings include such areas as ditches, along creeks, and in regions of bottomland. It also often lives in marshes, bogs, as well as in the forested edges of these same surprising ecosystems.
The awesome Orange Jewelweed developed as a herbaceous annual. Blooming usually occurs between late spring and early fall. Pollination mainly takes place due to the actions of various local varieties of hummingbirds. Nevertheless, certain bees, especially bumblebees, sometimes assist.
Historically, certain parts of the flora also once had their many uses among humans. Certain Native American herbal remedies used the juice of the leaves and stems. The young shoots can also be consumed as a leafy green vegetable, after boiling. Its seeds are also fully edible for humans.
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