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prettygoodwordimpatiens (im-PAY-shuhnz) - n., any of various plants of the genus Impatiens, especially several species widely cultivated as ornamentals for their colorful flowers.
Yes, the singular form ends in -s, but if it's any consolation the plural form is identical. Also called <takes deep breath> touch-me-not, snapweed, busy lizzie, and patience, and in northern climates jewelweed, and in the tropics balsam. There are over a thousand species, which means a lot of variety, but almost all of them have seed pods that, when ripe, burst open when touched, so scattering the seeds -- and it's from this last that they got their name, from Latin impatiēns, not enduring/not tolerating. Here's one that caught my eye:
Thanks, WikiMedia!
And that wraps up an undeclared theme week of plants -- back next week with the usual unsorted heap o' words.
---L.
Yes, the singular form ends in -s, but if it's any consolation the plural form is identical. Also called <takes deep breath> touch-me-not, snapweed, busy lizzie, and patience, and in northern climates jewelweed, and in the tropics balsam. There are over a thousand species, which means a lot of variety, but almost all of them have seed pods that, when ripe, burst open when touched, so scattering the seeds -- and it's from this last that they got their name, from Latin impatiēns, not enduring/not tolerating. Here's one that caught my eye:
Thanks, WikiMedia!
And that wraps up an undeclared theme week of plants -- back next week with the usual unsorted heap o' words.
---L.
