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Project Noah Nature School
Impatiens glandulifera
Growing to 1 to 2 m high, with a soft green or red-tinged stem, and lanceolate leaves 5 to 23 cm long. The crushed foliage has a strong musty smell. The flowers are pink, with a hooded shape, 3 to 4 cm tall and 2 cm broad; the flower shape has been compared to a policeman's helmet, giving rise to the alternative common name Policeman's Helmet.
Native to the Himalayas. Via human introduction it is now extant across much of the Northern Hemisphere.
Wow, I'm so glad you posted this! I have a similar mystery plant, same flower, bud and leaf shape, but the blossoms are differently colored. I wouldn't have guessed an Impatiens.
Spotted on Sep 23, 2011
Submitted on Sep 23, 2011
