Jewelweed II

 Note from the Author: I have covered this plant before, on June 20^th 2011 in brief detail.

 

 

Impatiens capensis (Flower) –Helen Lowe, USGUS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab MD USA. (Via Wikipedia)

Impatiens capensis – Derek Ramsey (Via Wikipedia)

Common Name: Jewelweed

 

Other Common Names: Jewel Weed, Orange Jewelweed, Touch-me-not, Spotted Touch-me-not, Orange-flowered Jewelweed.

 

Botanical Family: Balsaminaceae (The Balsam Family)

 

Botanical Latin Name: Impatiens capensis

 

Description & Habitat:  Jewelweed is commonly found in wet areas such as along rivers, streams, ponds, springs, swamps, low mesic woodlands, floodplains and bottom lands. In the urban landscape you will find it around artificial ponds or anywhere it’s been introduced and the soil is regularly moist such as drainage areas. Jewelweed is an annual native plant that is upright growing has pale stems that often have enlarged internodes. The leaves are roughly elliptical in shape and are borne alternately and may have dentate margins. The flowers of Jewelweed are something to behold as they range from orange to orange-yellow in color and are spotted with reddish, yellow, dark orange or white spots that may also present as large blotches.

 

Special Toxicity Note:  This plant does contain Calcium Oxalate Crystals and thus is not recommended for consumption raw. Cooking destroys some of the crystals but even so it is impossible in the field to determine the concentration of Calcium oxalate in each plant so even if cooked regular consumption is not advised.

 

When & What to Harvest: Young shoots and foliage are ideal but they must be used quickly as this plant wilts very fast. Wrapping the cut foliage in wet paper towels and carrying them in a cooler with ice can delay the wilting for an hour or two if needed. Also stem cuttings of this plant that are at least 3-5” long may be able to be rooted in a glass of water for cultivation purposes. With that said, I must mention that jewelweed is a medicinal plant, and many references cite that it was used by an unspecified number of Native American peoples. Its primary use was in the treatment of wounds and skin ailments but also, cathartic, diuretic and emetic. In the form of an infusion it was used to treat fevers, difficult urination, measles, stomach cramps, and jaundice. The juice of the leaves and stems has been used externally to treat piles, fungal dermatitis, nettle stings, poison ivy rash, and burns while the sap specifically was used to handle warts. In the form of a poultice of the leaves is applied to bruises, burns, cuts and lacerations.

 

 

Related Plants: Yellow-flowered Jewelweed (Impatiens pallida)

 

Recipe:  

While I have no official recipes for this plant there is one in edible wild plants of North America that is worth a try. It does not specify how much Jewelweed you need but I’m guessing a cup of it that’s been chopped.

 

Cover Jewelweed with water and boil for 10-15 minutes. During this drain the existing water* and replace with fresh water at least twice. Drain a final time then season and butter to taste.

 

*You might want to hold on to the drained water; it can be the basis of anti-poison Ivy salve or ointment.

 

Additional Information: (If applicable)

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/impatiens-capensis/

 

 

Where to get Seed or Bare Root Plants:

https://www.prairiemoon.com/impatiens-capensis-spotted-touch-me-not

 

 

With all that garden goodness covered this is the part of the blog where I have to advertise for the Fayetteville City Market. Now I know you readers probably don’t much like advertisements, but my booth at the City Market helps to cover the costs of running the test garden and literally maintains the Research & Development budget that is used to bring you the information that has made up the backbone of this blog.  In addition to being able to process card payments we now take CashApp payments so your payment options for my product have tripled. With that said; if you want to get some GMO-free, Organic fruit, herbs, flowers and perennials, come on down to the Fayetteville City Market on 325 Maxwell Street in downtown Fayetteville between the hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturdays. Even in bad weather the market goes on though you might have to look for me under the ‘arches’ of the Transportation Museum’s front entryway.

 

 

Fresh Produce:

Cucumbers, Lemon

Figs, Celeste

Figs, Chicago Hardy

Figs, Ischia

Peppers, Banana Drop Hybrid

 

Summer Vegetables:

Nightshade Greens, Gbognome

Nightshade Greens, West African Njama

Okra, Baby Bubba

Okra, Iraqi Bamia

Pepper, Ghost

Pepper, Serrano

Pepper, Hungarian Wax Banana

Pepper, Bull’s Horn

Pepper, Mad Hatter

Pepper, Purple Bell

Potato, Adirondak (Purple skin with blue-purple flesh)

Spinach, Egyptian

 

Herbs:

Basil, Holy

Basil, Sweet Genovese

Chives

Yarrow, Parker’s Gold

 

Flowers:

Flowering Tobacco

Marigolds

 

Plants Coming Soon:

Egyptian Onions

 

How to stay in Contact with Us!

All you need to keep up with all our activities is to have a Nextdoor account and to look for the ‘Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville’ group and ask to join! You don’t have to live in Fayetteville to join us! Feel free to ask all your garden questions of our knowledgeable membership and post your cool garden pictures.

 

Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville

 

Also please take a gander at the YouTube version of this blog:

The Videos: Look Here

>Newest videos (2): Jewels of Opar, Sweet Potato Vine (short video).

 

Meetings are still going on! Our next (unofficial) meeting is August 2^nd at the Fayetteville City Market at 325 Franklin Street between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm.