Why is the garden balsam also called "nail grass"? It turns out they are the same plant

Scientific name: Impatiens balsamina

English name: Garden Balsam

Aliases: Nail grass, Tougu grass, Golden phoenix flower, Spotted gold flower, Impatient plant, Little peach

Family name: Balsaminaceae

Genus name: Impatiens

Adapted regions:

Native to China, India and the Malay Archipelago, widely cultivated in central and southern China.

Ecological classification: Herbaceous plant, annual or biennial flower

Ornamental classification: Flower-viewing type

Morphological features:

Annual herb, plant height 30-60cm. Stem fleshy, reddish-brown or light green, often related to flower color, nodes swollen. Leaves alternate, ovate-lanceolate, margins serrate, petiole base with two glandular points. Flowers solitary or several clustered in leaf axils, opening laterally, 3 sepals, the two lateral ones smaller, the posterior one larger and sac-shaped, with a spur at the base, 5 petals, in colors of white, pink, deep red, purple, purple-red, etc., flowering period June-October. Seeds easily burst open on their own when mature.

Growth habits:

Likes light, prefers moist but well-drained soil, not cold-tolerant, can self-sow.

Myth and legend:

In Greek mythology there is a story about the origin of the garden balsam.

One day, when the gods were drinking deep in the fairy realm, and the golden peaches were brought to the banquet, it turned out that one was missing. The gods suspected a certain fairy of stealing it, and without letting her defend herself, they expelled her from the fairy realm. The fairy, full of injustice, wandered to the mortal world, but by then she was utterly exhausted. Before dying she swore an oath, hoping her injustice could be cleared.

After she died she became the garden balsam. Whenever the balsam fruit ripens, at the slightest touch it bursts open immediately, as if impatient for people to see her "heart," so people called her "Impatient plant."

In ancient times there was no nail polish, but beautiful ladies knew how to make good use of nature's resources to adorn themselves. They picked brightly colored balsam petals and used the petal juice to dye their nails, so young girls called the garden balsam "nail flower."

The African impatiens from Africa also belongs to the Balsaminaceae family; it is a close sister of the garden balsam, lacking none of the balsam's characteristics. It has more flowers than the balsam, and its colors are also more varied, and it can bloom all year round, so it has become a favorite guest of flower beds. The seemingly delicate African impatiens actually has unexpectedly superb vitality.

Truly, it is both easy to grow and blooms abundantly, most suitable for beginners to cultivate. Whether in a courtyard, by the house, or on a balcony, as long as there are two or three hours of sunlight each day, the African impatiens can grow vigorously and thrive.