About Impatiens parviflora DC.
Impatiens parviflora DC., commonly called small balsam or small-flowered touch-me-not, is an annual herbaceous plant species belonging to the Balsaminaceae family. It is native to certain regions of Eurasia, and has become naturalized in other areas. It typically grows in damp, shady locations, and can thrive in sandy, loamy, and clay soils, with a preference for moist conditions. Its common name "touch-me-not" comes from a characteristic trait of the species: when ripe seed pods are touched, they explode to disperse their seeds over a wide area. Ecologically, the flowers of Impatiens parviflora are pollinated by insects. This plant has a number of recorded uses. Its leaves are fully edible when cooked. Its seeds can be eaten either raw or cooked. Impatiens parviflora is also used as a treatment for warts, ringworm, and nettle stings, and as a hair rinse to soothe an itchy scalp.
