Medicinal Plant:
Jewelweed: Also called (touch-me-not)
Jewelweed plants grow 3 to 5 feet tall and bloom from late spring to early fall. The flowers are orange (or rarely yellow).
Plants may also produce non-showy flowers, which do not require cross-pollination.
The stems are somewhat translucent, succulent, and have swollen or darkened nodes (on only some plants).
The seed pods are pendant and have projectile seeds that explode out of the pods when they are lightly touched, if ripe, which is where the name 'touch-me-not' comes from.
The leaves appear to be silver or 'jeweled' when held underwater, which is possibly where the jewelweed name comes from.
Along with other species of jewelweed the juice of the leaves and stems is a traditional Native American remedy for skin rashes, including poison ivy and such use has been supported by at least one study.
