jewelweed

American  

[joo-uhl-weed] / ˈdʒu əlˌwid /

noun

1. any of several plants of the genus Impatiens, especially I. capensis, having orange-yellow flowers spotted with reddish brown, or I. pallida, having yellow flowers sometimes spotted with brownish red.

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Etymology

Origin of jewelweed

An Americanism dating back to 1810–20; jewel + weed ¹

Example Sentences

Our forest floors should be carpeted with Virginia bluebells, trillium, skunk cabbage, jewelweed, ferns, spring beauty, trout lily, columbine and more.

From Washington Post • Mar. 24, 2022

Other plants she joyfully forages include American persimmons, pawpaws, wood nettles and jewelweed, which grows near creeks in Ohio, “where they can keep their feet wet.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 9, 2021

A store wall is lined with Mason jars filled with herbaceous plants like jewelweed, passionflower and elderberry, which Appalachians were taught to use by the Cherokee.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 30, 2021

The job paid $3.35 an hour for digging trenches, building footbridges and learning about anger management and the medical uses of jewelweed, which grew wild along the creek.

From New York Times • Mar. 6, 2014

This time of year, the valley shimmers with clumps of orange jewelweed and sapphire bellflowers that shoot up from a blanket of moss so soft you could lie down and sleep for a thousand years.

From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish