Pale Touch-me-not (Click image to enlarge) |
Pale Touch-me-not Impatiens pallida Pale Touch-me-not is also known as Jewelweed. Member of the Touch-me-not Family. There is a closely related orange-flowered species known as Spotted Touch-me-not. Both grow in wet soils. After fertilization the flowers form seed pods that gradually swell as they ripen. Eventually, they burst open and fling seeds around the parent plant. If you encounter ripe touch-me-not seed pods, even the slightest touch can cause them to burst and send their seeds flying. If you examine the remains of the seed pod after it bursts, you can often find the tightly coiled structure that provided the motive force for seed distribution. I photographed this individual in central Indiana, after a summer rain. |
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