Because it was not collected in our region until 1950,
Impatiens capensis may be introduced in the Pacific Northwest according to Peter Zika. Read his article in the Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society, listed below.
Note Author: R. Klinkenberg, August 3, 2009.
Further Reading:
Ornduff, R. 1966. Impatiens capensis in Oregon: native or naturalized? Leaflets of Western Botany 10: 317-319.
Zika, Peter. 2006. The Status of Impatiens capensis (Balsaminaceae) on the Pacific Northwest Coast. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 133(4): 593-600.
Zika, Peter. 2009. Impatiens of the Pacific Northwest. Available: http://bomi.ou.edu/ben/408/impatiens_figures_408.pdf. Accessed August 3, 2009.
Taxonomic Key to Impatiens
1. Pouched sepals not spurred......................................I. ecalcarata
1. Pouched sepals spurred.
2. Leaves opposite or whorled (at least some of them, finely saw-toothed; flowers blue to purple or purplish-pink or sometimes white............................ I. glandulifera
2. Leaves alternate, coarsely saw-toothed; flowers orange or yellowish.
3. Spurs of the sepals straight, directed backward.......................................I. parviflora
3. Spurs of the sepals curved or hooked.
4. Flowers less than 2 cm long, without spots..........................I. aurella
4. Flowers more htan 2 cm long, spotted, mottled or sparingly flecked.
5. Flowers orange, brown-spotted, or -mottled.........................I. capensis
5. Flowers yellow, sparingly flecked with brownish purple........................I. noli-tangere
