1. Impatiens balsamina L. (balsam, garden balsam)

Pl. 301 a; Map 1266

Plants (stems, leaves, sepals, and fruits) pubescent with short, curved, somewhat glandular hairs, at least when young. Stems 30–80 cm long. Leaves 3–10(–15) cm long, the blade oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic, tapered gradually to the short petiole, tapered to the sharply pointed tip, the margins sharply and finely toothed, the basal portion and petiole usually with several small, hemispheric to stalked or tack-shaped, dark-colored glands. Inflorescences of solitary or less commonly pairs of axillary flowers, these purple to red, pink, white, or combinations thereof. Spurred sepal with the pouched portion 6–14 mm long, broadly conical, wider than long, the spur 1.3–2.2 cm long, gradually recurved. Fruits 1.2–2.0 cm long, asymmetrically elliptic in outline. Seeds 2.5–4.0 mm long, oblong-ovate in outline, rounded at the tip, bluntly 4-angled, the surface pebbled to finely warty, dark brown, with minute, lighter flecks. 2n=14. July–September.

Introduced, known only from St. Louis County and City (native of Asia, widely cultivated and escaping sporadically; in the eastern U.S. west to Wisconsin and Louisiana). Railroads, creek beds, and moist, disturbed areas.