Family: Balsaminaceae
Author: DC.
Bibliography: Prodr. 1: 687 (1824)
Year: 1824
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Impatiens
Vegetable: False
Observations: C. Asia to SW. Siberia and Mongolia
Description
Balsam, scientifically known as Impatiens parviflora, finds its roots cited in the “Prodr. 1: 687” published in 1824, with the distinguished botanist DC. being the author. This resilient plant belongs to the Balsaminaceae family and boasts an extensive native range stretching from Central Asia to the southwestern regions of Siberia and into Mongolia.
As an intriguing member of the balsam family, Impatiens parviflora is noted for its adaptability and widespread growth across a variety of terrains within its native habitat. The plant typically thrives in moist, shaded environments, where it contributes to the biodiversity and stability of local ecosystems.
One of the distinctive aspects of the Balsam is its small, delicate flowers that lend the plant its scientific epithet “parviflora,” meaning “small-flowered” in Latin. These diminutive blooms, although understated, play a crucial role in the plant’s life cycle and attract a host of pollinators, ensuring seed dispersal and the continuation of the species.
Historically, Balsam has been a subject of botanical study due to its unique seed dispersal mechanism, which is a noteworthy adaptation among plants in its family. The seed pods of Impatiens parviflora burst open when ripe, effectively spreading seeds over a considerable distance – a fascinating characteristic that has undoubtedly contributed to its successful propagation in various regions.
In summary, Impatiens parviflora, or Balsam, is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of the plant kingdom. Its presence across a substantial Asiatic range and its distinctive biological features make it a plant of interest both to botanists and to those who appreciate the subtle complexities of nature.
Common Names
Nor: amerikahumleblom, apal, russhumleblom
Swe: amerikansk nejlikrot, apel, bärapel, rysk nejlikrot, blekbalsamin, rikkapalsami
Dan: amerikansk nellikerod, småblomstret balsamin, småblomstret springbalsamin, sød-æble
Ita: balsamina minore, impaziente a fiori piccoli
Fra: balsamine à petites fleurs, impatiente à petites fleurs, impatiente parviflore
Fin: idänkellukka, japaninkellukka, tarhaomenapuu, rikkapalsami
Nld: klein springzaad
Deu: kleinblütiges springkraut, kleines springkraut
Pol: niecierpek drobnokwiatowy
Eng: small balsam, small yellow balsam, smallflower touch-me-not, smallflower touchmenot, balsam, small-flower touch-me-not, small-flowered jewelweed, small touch-me-not, small-flowered touch-me-not
Lit: smulkiažiedė sprigė
Hun: kisvirágú nebáncsvirág
Nob: mongolspringfrø
Nno: mongolspringfrø
Ces: netýkavka malokvětá
Lav: sīkziedu sprigane
Est: väikeseõiene lemmalts
Cym: ffromlys bach, ffromlys melyn bychanflodeuog
En: Balsam, Small-flower touch-me-not, Small balsam, Smallflower touchmenot, Smallflower touch-me-not, Small yellow balsam, Small-flowered touch-me-not, Small-flowered jewelweed, Small touch-me-not, Smallflower Jewelweed
Be: Бальзамін дробнакветны
Zh: 小花凤仙花
Cs: Netýkavka malokvětá
Da: Småblomstret Balsamin, Amerikansk Nellikerod, Småblomstret springbalsamin, Sød-Æble
Nl: Klein springzaad, Klein Sprinzaad
Et: Väikeseõieline lemmalts, Väikeseõiene lemmalts
Fi: Rikkapalsami, Idänkellukka, Japaninkellukka, Tarhaomenapuu
Fr: Balsamine à petites fleurs, Balsamine a petites fleurs, Impatiente à Petites Fleurs, Impatiente parviflore
De: Kleinblütiges Springkraut, Kleines Springkraut, Sibirisches Springkraut
Hu: Kisvirágú nebáncsvirág
It: Balsamina minore, Impaziente a fiori piccoli
Lv: Sīkziedu sprigane
Lt: Smulkiažiedė sprigė
No: Mongolspringfrø, Amerikahumleblom, Apal, Russhumleblom
Nb: Mongolspringfrø
Nn: Mongolspringfrø
Fa: گل گلریز
Pl: Niecierpek drobnokwiatowy
Ru: Недотрога мелкоцветковая
Sk: Netýkavka malokvetá
Sv: Blekbalsamin, Amerikansk Nejlikrot, Apel, Bärapel, Rysk nejlikrot, Rikkapalsami
Zh-tw: 小花鳳仙花
Zh-hant: 小花鳳仙花
Uk: Розрив-трава дрібноквіткова
Uz: Choʻpxina
Cy: Ffromlys bach, Ffromlys Melyn Bychanflodeuog
Synonyms
- Impatiens parviflora f. albiflora (Priszter)
- Impatiens nevskii (Pobed.)
- Impatiens parviflora subsp. nevskii ((Pobed.) Tzvelev)
- Balsamina parviflora ((DC.) Ser.)
Distribution
- Afghanistan (native)
- Altay (native)
- Kazakhstan (native)
- Kirgizstan (native)
- Manchuria (native)
- Mongolia (native)
- Tadzhikistan (native)
- Turkmenistan (native)
- Uzbekistan (native)
- Austria (introduced)
- Belgium (introduced)
- British Columbia (introduced)
- Bulgaria (introduced)
- Central European Rus (introduced)
- Czechoslovakia (introduced)
- Denmark (introduced)
- Finland (introduced)
- France (introduced)
- Germany (introduced)
- Great Britain (introduced)
- Hungary (introduced)
- Italy (introduced)
- Khabarovsk (introduced)
- New Brunswick (introduced)
- Northwest European R (introduced)
- Nova Scotia (introduced)
- Oregon (introduced)
- Poland (introduced)
- Primorye (introduced)
- Prince Edward I. (introduced)
- Québec (introduced)
- Romania (introduced)
- Sweden (introduced)
- Switzerland (introduced)
- Ukraine (introduced)
- Yugoslavia (introduced)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Flower
Taken Jul 15, 2021 by Emanuele Santarelli (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 3, 2021 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 15, 2021 by Emanuele Santarelli (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 13, 2021 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 24, 2017 by Gym Skuteč (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Jun 8, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 3, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 1, 2021 by Sabina Hartmann (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 2, 2021 by Irmgard Groß (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 15, 2021 by Emanuele Santarelli (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Aug 2, 2021 by Irmgard Groß (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 10, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 10, 2021 by Nongnuj Dobbs (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 6, 2021 by silaxo (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 23, 2017 by Jeanmichelle Dupond (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Aug 13, 2010 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 18, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 3, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 1, 2017 by Natasha Jarvio (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 6, 2021 by silaxo (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Jul 18, 2022 by Waldemar Zeja (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 2, 2022 by Ernst Fürst (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 2, 2016 by Jennifer Carré (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 17, 2019 by Willy Schuyesmans (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 21, 2019 by Pascalle Linssen (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Aug 21, 2018 by okhin (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 28, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 28, 2019 by Thomas Pons (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 8, 2022 by Adeline Glauser (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 4, 2019 by Ol TB (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2891782)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:374266-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Impatiens parviflora DC.)
Specifications
Growth habit: Forb/herb
Growth
Ph maximum: 7.5
Ph minimum: 7.0
Light: 3
Atmospheric humidity: 7
Bloom months: [‘may’, ‘jun’, ‘jul’, ‘aug’, ‘sep’, ‘oct’]
Soil nutriments: 7