Balsaminaceae
Quick Summary
The Balsaminaceae, commonly known as the touch-me-not family, is a group of plants that includes two genera and approximately 1,000 species, primarily fleshy herbs. The most well-known genus is Impatiens, which gives the family its name and is widely distributed across Asia, Africa, and North America.12
Key characteristics of Balsaminaceae include:
* Flowers: Irregularly shaped, often spurred, and typically in shades of purple, yellow, pink, red, or white.23
* Leaves: Simple, usually arranged alternately along the stem, with upper leaves sometimes forming a whorl.2
* Seed Dispersal: The name "Impatiens" refers to the explosive bursting of ripe seedpods, which scatters the seeds.21
Popular garden plants like the garden balsam (Impatiens balsamina) and wild species such as spotted jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) belong to this family.2
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