Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Impatiens
‖
Im-pa′ti-ens
(ĭm-pā′shĭ-ĕnz)
, p
rop.
Noun.
[L., impatient.]
(Bot.)
A genus of plants, several species of which have very beautiful flowers; – so called because the elastic capsules burst when touched, and scatter the seeds with considerable force. Called also
touch-me-not
, jewelweed
, and snapweed
. Impatiens Balsamina
(sometimes called lady’s slipper
) is the common garden balsam.