Table of Contents
How do I identify jewelweed?
Why is jewelweed called Touch-Me-Not?
Description: Jewelweed grows to be a wild bush. The Jewelweed is also called a “Touch-Me-Not” because upon touching the ripe seed pods, they explode. The Spotted Touch-Me-Not is orange with spots. The flower has an opening at the top, and the flower hangs off of the stems.
Are Touch Me Nots the same as jewelweed?
The common name (Spotted Touch-me-not) is a reference to the seed pods popping open at a touch, a characteristic which also explains two other common names – Snapweed and Spotted Snap Weed. The plant is also known as Jewelweed and Spotted Jewelweed.
What can jewelweed be used for?
Jewelweed is most commonly known for its antipruritic use in the treatment of poison ivy rash. It has also been used as an agent to promote blood flow, for postchildbirth and joint pain, bruises and swelling, and as an antidote to fish poisoning.
Can you eat Touch-me-not?
Jewelweed produces seed pods that harmlessly explode when touched, sending the seeds flying through the air, which explains why it’s also known as the touch-me-not plant. You can safely eat these small seeds, which taste similar to walnuts.
Where can I find jewelweed?
Jewelweed is a widespread and common plant that occurs in moist, semi-shady areas throughout northern and eastern North America. It often forms dense, pure stands in floodplain forests and around the forested edges of marshes and bogs.
What is another name for jewelweed?
Jewelweed, Impatiens capensis, is an annual plant in the balsam family (Balsaminaceae) native to northern and eastern North America that also goes by other common names including orange balsam, orange jewelweed, spotted jewelweed, and spotted touch-me-not.
Does jewelweed get rid of poison ivy?
Poison oak and poison ivy dermatitis (rash). Some small studies shows that applying jewelweed extract or juice to the skin does not help treat or prevent rashes caused by poison ivy, but applying a jewelweed mash directly to the skin may help.
How do you harvest and use jewelweed?
Once jewelweed is dry, it loses most of its medicinal properties. Harvest the aerial parts of jewelweed (leaves, flower, and stems) once it has started blooming. Jewelweed likes water and the woods, so I encourage folks to do some woods walking if you don’t already know of a patch.
Can you transplant jewelweed?
The scientific name for spotted jewelweed is Impatiens capensis. This plant has a taproot, making it difficult to transplant. The seeds may require treatment in a refrigerator for a couple of months (maybe even twice with a warm, moist period in between) prior to planting in fall in order to germinate.
Is spotted touch-me-not poisonous?
There are two related species of native wildflowers known as Touch-me-nots: the Spotted Touch-me-not (Impatiens capensis) and the Pale Touch-me-not (Impatiens pallida). For what reason would a plant be called a touch-me-not? The plant is poisonous to people. The plant is poisonous to animals.
Is spotted touch-me-not invasive?
Spotted knapweed, goutweed and Japanese knotweed are all pernicious invasive species, and deserve all the bad press they get. But occasionally an innocent bystander suffers from this name game. The native plant commonly known as jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) is one of those exceptions.
Can I drink jewelweed tea?
Gather jewelweed leaves, not the flowers, and boil them to make a tea. Dab this over the area of the rash. You can freeze any remaining tea in an ice cube tray but label it so no one makes a mistake and adds it to a beverage.
How do you make jewelweed tea?
Bring the water to boil and then cover the plant material with the water. The tea quickly begins to turn orange. Cover the pot with a lid and let it steep 6-8 hours or over night at room temperature. In the morning remove big pieces of the plant material with a pair of tongs.
How do you make jewelweed mash?
Mix 2 tablespoons of beeswax to 1/2 cup infused oil in a glass jar. Heat the jar in a water bath on the stove until the beeswax is dissolved. Let cool slightly before adding in your essential oils (about 15 drops), and vitamin E to act as a preservative. Stir and pour into the containers.
Can chickens eat jewelweed?
In the wild or in free range flocks, chickens forage all day long. Dandelions, chick weed, wild violets, jewel weed, plantain leaves and clover are some of the wild herbaceous plants chickens love to snack on.
What part of jewelweed is edible?
Foraging Jewelweed Seed Pods (Tastes like walnuts!) The leaves and stalks are of questionable edibility, but the seedpods are a particularly special treat. Eaten carefully right off the plant, they pop in your mouth (which the kids love) and taste just like English walnuts.
How do you collect jewelweed seeds?
To harvest jewelweed seeds, simply explode the pods into a plastic bag, and then separate the eatables from the hulls after you finish collecting. You can use the free-for-the-gathering seeds to flavor your favorite cookies, breads, and puddings.
