Botanical Family · Ericales
Balsaminaceae
Balsam/Touch-me-not family
67 speciesOrder Ericales8+ well-known plants
The balsam or touch-me-not family, dominated by the genus Impatiens with over 1,000 species. Found mainly in Asia and Africa in moist, shaded habitats. The ripe seed capsules burst open explosively when touched, scattering seeds — giving rise to their common name.
Browse all 67 species ↓
Translucent, watery stems; irregular flowers with a nectar-filled spur, maturing into a seed capsule that bursts open at the lightest touch.
The exploding, 'touch-me-not' seed capsule is the family's single most reliable field mark.
Which Balsaminaceae species is this?
Answer what you can see and narrow it down to a single Balsaminaceae species.
Leaf SurfaceWhat does the leaf surface feel or look like?
Glabrous
Glabrous (smooth, hairless)
Hirsute (coarsely hairy)
Pubescent
Pubescent (softly hairy)
Tomentose (woolly, matted hairs)
HabitWhat is the plant's growth habit?
Epiphytic/shrubby herb
Herb
Stemless rosette herb
Leaf ArrangementHow are the leaves arranged on the stem?
Alternate
Opposite
Whorled
Flower ColorWhat color are the flowers?
Pink
White
Yellow
Flower ColorWhat color are the flowers?
Pink
White
How to recognise the Balsaminaceae family
- 01
Succulent, translucent stems
- 02
Spurred zygomorphic flowers
- 03
Explosive dehiscent capsule fruits
Typical leaf characters
Characters typical of the family — individual species can vary.
Typical flower & fruit
- Flower symmetryZygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical)
- InflorescenceSolitary
- FruitCapsule
Typical of the family — flowering plants only; species can vary.
Notable members
Stemless BalsamImpatiens acaulis var. granulataGarden Balsam, Blackberry Trifle, Balsam Plant, Balsam Weed, Jewel WeedImpatiens balsaminaGarden Balsam, Blackberry Trifle, Balsam Plant, Balsam Weed, Jewel WeedImpatiens balsamina var. micranthaGarden Balsam, Blackberry Trifle, Balsam Plant, Balsam Weed, Jewel WeedImpatiens balsamina var. parusnathicaAgumbe BalsamImpatiens barberiChinese BalsamImpatiens chinensisClub-Spur BalsamImpatiens clavicornuHeart-Leaf BalsamImpatiens cordata
All 67 species in BALSAMINACEAE
- Stemless BalsamImpatiens acaulis var. granulata
- Garden Balsam, Blackberry Trifle, Balsam Plant, Balsam Weed, Jewel WeedImpatiens balsamina
- Garden Balsam, Blackberry Trifle, Balsam Plant, Balsam Weed, Jewel WeedImpatiens balsamina var. micrantha
- Garden Balsam, Blackberry Trifle, Balsam Plant, Balsam Weed, Jewel WeedImpatiens balsamina var. parusnathica
- Agumbe BalsamImpatiens barberi
- Chinese BalsamImpatiens chinensis
- Club-Spur BalsamImpatiens clavicornu
- Heart-Leaf BalsamImpatiens cordata
- Spindle-Fruit BalsamImpatiens cuspidata
- Dalzell's Yellow BalsamImpatiens dalzellii
- Shining BalsamImpatiens dasysperma
- Tree-Dwelling BalsamImpatiens dendricola
- Elegant BalsamImpatiens elegans
- Shrubby BalsamImpatiens fruticosa
- Pink Long-Spur BalsamImpatiens gardneriana
- Small-Hat BalsamImpatiens goughii
- Grand BalsamImpatiens grandis
- New Guinea ImpatiensImpatiens hawkeri
- Malabar Whitish BalsamImpatiens hensloviana
- Tiny BalsamImpatiens inconspicua
- Purple-Throat BalsamImpatiens lawii
- Leptura BalsamImpatiens leptura
- Spotted BalsamImpatiens maculata
- Lesser BalsamImpatiens minor
- Modest BalsamImpatiens modesta
- Opposite-Leaved BalsamImpatiens oppositifolia
- Parrot BalsamImpatiens parasitica
- Handsome Flowered BalsamImpatiens pulcherrima
- Rough-Leaved Spurless BalsamImpatiens scabriuscula var. rosea
- Leafless-Stem BalsamImpatiens scapiflora
- White Kanara BalsamImpatiens stocksii
- Marsh BalsamImpatiens tomentosa
- Whorled-Leaf BalsamImpatiens verticillata
- Sticky BalsamImpatiens viscosa
- Chinese BalsamImpatiens walleriana
- Impatiens aadishankarii
- Impatiens acaulis var. acaulis
- Impatiens agumbeana
- Impatiens bababudenensis
- Impatiens balsamina var. macrantha
- Impatiens balsamina var. rosea
- Impatiens bhaskarii
- Impatiens bhimgadensis
- Impatiens clavata
- Impatiens diversifolia
- Impatiens fasciculata
- Impatiens inconspicua var. pushpagiriensis
- Impatiens jerdoniae
- Impatiens kleiniformis
- Impatiens kodachadriensis
- Impatiens kotebettii
- Impatiens madapurae
- Impatiens minae
- Impatiens minor var. hirsuta
- Impatiens mullaingiriensis
- Impatiens munnarensis
- Impatiens mysorensis
- Impatiens omissa
- Impatiens pendula
- Impatiens pseudo-acaulis
- Impatiens raziana
- Impatiens rupicola
- Impatiens rupicola var. nataliae
- Impatiens scabriuscula var. alba
- Impatiens talbotii
- Impatiens viridiflora
- Impatiens yercaudensis
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