Impatiens, << ihm PAY shuhnz or ihm PAY shee enhnz, >> is the scientific name for a large group of flowering plants noted for their explosive seed pods. As a seed pod of an impatiens ripens, water pressure builds up in the walls of the pod. The slightest touch makes the walls split apart, hurling seeds in all directions. Two of the common names for certain impatiens—touch-me-not and snapweed—describe this trait.
There are several hundred species (kinds) of impatiens. Most of them are native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Eastern Hemisphere. Many are found in India and Sri Lanka. Several species are native to North America.
Most kinds of impatiens grow wild. They can be found along riverbanks, and in lowland woods, swamps, and damp thickets. Many impatiens are cultivated in greenhouses and gardens. Some, such as the garden balsam and the busy Lizzy are used as potted plants.
Most impatiens bear flowers with a long spur at the back. The flowers may be pink, reddish-orange, orange, yellow, purple, or white. The shape of the flowers varies widely, depending on the species. For example, wild North American impatiens, also called jewelweeds, have sac-shaped flowers that droop down from the stem on slender stalks. The flowers of the garden balsam, on the other hand, are roundish clusters of petals attached close to the stem.
