Jewelweed leaf traits

We are asking citizen scientists to collect and mail us leaves from common and pale jewelweed so that we can test if these leaf differences are present throughout the entire native ranges of these species. Such morphometric analyses can be a powerful tool to help identify and quantify species-distinguishing traits for taxonomists and field biologists to use.

The genus Impatiens is formed by a group of flowering plants well known for their bright colored blooms. Common or orange jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) and pale or yellow jewelweed (Impatiens pallida) are annual plants that can both be found in the eastern part of the United States and Canada. These two species share many morphological characteristics, have overlapping ranges, and inhabit similar habitat types. These similarities make it difficult to differentiate between the two species when flowers are not present. A previous study in Wisconsin, USA identified differences in leaf shape, size, and color between I. capensis and I. pallida. We are expanding this research to the entire native ranges of these two jewelweeds. less ↑