CSIR-NEERI Biodiversity Portal

NEERI Biodiversity Portal

Easy access to campus Biodiversity...

Facilitates Learning & Sharing Knowledge of Biodiversity on a Click

NBP was inaugurated by Dr. M.S. Ladania, Director, NRCC Nagpur on 8 April 2015

Garden Balsam/Gulmehendi

Impatiens balsamina

Botanical name	: Impatiens balsamina .
Common Name	: Garden Balsam/Gulmehendi
Family	: Balsaminaceae
Synonym	: Impatiens coccinea, Impatiens cornuta, Balsamina hortensis
About	: Garden Balsam is most common Balsam grown as a garden plant in India. It is also weed in some parts of lower Shivaliks of Garhwal. Himalayan balsam is known as Indian spring weed in many parts of Europe especially Germany. It is an annual plant growing up to 20-75 cm tall, with a thick, but soft stem. The leaves are spirally-arranged, 2.5-9 cm long and 1-2.5 cm broad, with a deeply toothed margin. The flowers are pink, red, mauve, lilac, or white, and 2.5-5 cm diameter. They are pollinated by bees and other insects, and also by nectar-feeding birds. Flower-stalks are up to 1-5 cm long. Lateral sepals are about 2-3 mm long, ovate, sparsely ciliate, lower sepal conical, spur 1-2 cm long, curved inwards. The ripe seed capsules explode when touched, inspiring the genus name Impatiens. Garden Balsam is native to Western Ghats India and SE Asia.