Himalayan Balsam

Botanical name: Impatiens glandulifera
Family: Balsam (Balsaminaceae)
Collectability: plentiful, common, widespread, weed

Main benefit
source of carbohydrates

Use - overview

Features and Identification

Habitat
Type: waste places, especially near streams
Distribution: throughout northern hemisphere
Prefers: moisture
Other: non-native, invasive, patch forming

General
Growth type: herb
Cycle: annual
Height: up to 1.5 meters

Leaf
Shape: lanceolate
Arrangement: opposite or in 3s
Edge: finely toothed, red

Stem
Colour: green-red
Texture: smooth
Cross Section: hollow
Other: succulent, swollen internodes

Flower
Petals/sepals: uneven lobes and short, bent spur
When: June to October
Other: scented
Colour:

depth varies

Seed
Colour: black
Size: 2-3mm
Casing: fluted capsule, swollen centre with pointed ends
Other: ripe pods burst open when touched

Caution Notes

Plant contains calcium oxalate. Calcium oxalate crystals cause severe irritation to mucous membranes and organs. Causes burning sensation in mouth, sometimes after a brief delay. Aggravates rheumatic conditions, kidney stones or hyper acidity. Severe poisoning can result in kidney damage and even death. May be neutralised by thoroughly drying or cooking or steeping in water. Best avoided.

Seeds are safe.

When Available?

September and October

Culinary Use

Flavour
Rating and Description:

nutty, faintly perfumed

How to Consume

raw, oil

Nutrition

carbohydrates, Vitamin C

Used as ...

food, condiment

Other Use

Plant: yellow dye

oil for lighting

Collection, Storing and Notes

Collection
The seed capsule bursts open on contact. Catch the seeds by placing a bag carefully over the plant and beating it.

Note
Himalayan Balsam is a highly invasive introduced species and a serious problem. All collected seeds should be thoroughly crushed, whether they are intended for food or not, to avoid the spread of this weed, including the spread through sewage from undigested seeds.

Make sure the seeds do not get caught in clothing and hair and spread beyond the growing area.

It is a shallow-rooted annual which can easily be pulled up or cut before seeding. However, its easy spread still makes eradicating a difficult task.

Never cultivate this plant. The available edible seeds should only be seen as a silver lining of a problem, and eating the seeds (if care is taken as described above) stops at least some seeds from becoming plants.