Rose balsam - Impatiens balsamina

Common Name :	Rose balsam.
Binomial Name :	Impatiens balsamina
Family :	Balsaminaceae
Bangla Name :	Dopati.
Photo Taken :	Bangladesh

Peach colored Balsam

Balsam is an ornamental flowering plant from the family Balsaminaceae with a binomial name Impatiens balsamina. Few common names of the flower are Golden Balsam, Rose Balsam, etc. This is native to Southern Asia, India and Myanmar region. This plant grows naturally in the hilly area of Bandarban in Bangladesh. During August they bloom in plenty beside the roadsides.

Pink colored Balsam.

In my childhood the fruit of Balsam flower was more interesting to us instead of the flower. The mature seedpod burst like a spring if anyone touches that (or a soft press). That interesting thing was a lovely toy to us. In Bangladesh we call this as Dopati ful.

Purple colored Balsam.

Rose balsam (Impatiens balsamina) flower appears in several colors, such as red, purple, violet, pink, white, etc. Flower comes (one or more) from the axil of the stem and the leaf. It requires full sunlight for bright color and prolific blooming. The shape of the flower is like a cup. Flower doesn't have any scent.





Rose balsam (Impatiens balsamina) is an annual herbaceous plant which grows 45-60cm in height (a bit bushy). Slight transparent stems are thick but soft. Leafs are spirally arranged around the stem. Leafs are having a shape like boat (wide at middle) with minuscule spikes at the border of the leaf.

Balsam flower with seed pod.

Pollination of the flower is done by the insects, bees, and nectar suckling birds. A ripe soft seedpod use to burst from a touch and the seeds use to spread around. For this reason people call this "Touch me not" flower.





This is an ornamental flower. Most gardeners use to plant this flower in garden, specially under the full sunlight. I haven't seen this flower in indoor gardens, like pots.

Balsam flower resembles a bird.

A balsam flower growing in wild.

Pink colored Balsam

Photos of this article were taken from Mohera, Tangail in January 2012. And from Bandarban during August 2012. In Bangla we call this flower as Dopati ful (দোপাটি ফুল).


This article has written by Lonely Traveler,
for the blog https://icflora.blogspot.com/