Flower · GBIF taxon 4936345
Yellow Kashmir Balsam
Impatiens edgeworthiiAlso known as Edgeworth's Balsam
Yellow Kashmir balsam thrives in damp, shaded montane forests and along woodland paths, producing intricate hooded blossoms of bright yellow marked with reddish veins. Like its close relatives, the plant relies on explosive seed pods that rupture at the slightest touch, flinging seeds several meters to colonize bare ground. In recent decades, introduced populations have established along riparian corridors and forest trails across parts of Central Europe.
FloweringHerbaceousAnnual
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Water
- Soil nutrients
Predators
- Slugs and snails
- Herbivorous insects
- Roe deer
ThreatsHabitat clearance in native range; non-native control efforts in introduced areas
HabitatsMoist deciduous and mixed woodlands, forest tracks, stream banks, and ravines
Life span1 year (annual)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderEricales
- FamilyBalsaminaceae
- GenusImpatiens
- SpeciesImpatiens edgeworthii
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Seed pod trigger: Lightly touch a swollen seed capsule to witness its coiled explosive dehiscence.
- Identification check: Look for the characteristic yellow petals flushed with red or orange network patterns.
- Biosecurity awareness: Clean footwear after hiking through dense patches to avoid unintentionally spreading seeds.
Competitor (c) Jörg Hempel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Jörg Hempel · cc-by-sa
Pollinator Marco Almbauer / CC0 · cc0
Close Relative (c) John Barkla, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by John Barkla · cc-by
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