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The Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) belongs to Balsaminaceae (the Balsam family). It is an annual herb that is native to the Himalayas. Due to anthropogenic introductions, they are now found throughout the northern hemisphere. This herb grows in moist habitat and up to a height of 1-2 m. The leaves are oblong, ovate to elliptic, and arranged oppsitely. The stems are reddish, multi-branched, erect, hollow, and hairless with large swollen nodes. The white, pink, red, and purple flowers bloom in racemes during the summer. They are irregular, 5 petaled and zygomorphic, with the lowest sepal forming a sac that ends in a straight spur. The fruits are seed capsules and contain 4-16 seeds.
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