Virtual Discovery Station - Spotted Jewelweed

Orange Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) is also called Spotted Touch-me-not, and for a good reason. Even the slightest physical contact causes the seed pod to rapidly curl, throwing the seeds several feet from the plant. This “explosion” of the seed pod happens in just 4/1000th of a second and the seeds are hurled away from the plant at a speed of 13 feet per second. Pretty cool, huh. Water (turgor) pressure built up within the 5 valves of the seed pod enable this “explosion” to happen. | Southern