Impatiens veerapazhasii

Impatiens veerapazhasii sp. nov.;

 


Epiphytic herbs on tree trunks, to 10 cm long, scapigerous, rhizome 7-8 mm, globose, thick with numerous root hairs. Leaves 2-4, highly variable, radical, broadly ovate or ovate-lanceolate, obliquely cordate or deeply cordate at base, rounded or obtusely acute at apex, margins distantly serrate, papillate on margins, 5-10 × 2-4 cm, glabrous and light green below, many-celled trichomes on upper surface, trichomes to 2 mm; nerves 5-7 pairs, pinkish below; petiole 2-3 cm long with pinkish stripes and spots. Inflorescence scapose, unbranched, zigzig between bracts, 4-8 cm long, glabrous or with trichomes on upper portion, 3-many flowered, racemose. Flowers white with yellow center; 1.5-2 × 2-2.5 cm, pedicel 1.5-2 cm long, glabrous; bracts strongly hairy, persistent, green, leafy, 3-lobed, broadly ovate to rounded, 1-1.5 × 0.8-1.3 cm, many celled trichomes above; lateral sepals lanceolate, ca. 3 × 2 mm, acute, slightly curved. Lower sepal ca. 5 × 4 mm, ovate, spathulate, white, spurless, glabrous; dorsal petal reniform, ca. 4 × 4 mm; lateral united petals 3-lobed, ca. 13 × 8 mm, white with yellow papillate base, white hairs on upper lobe, upper lobe 5-7 × 2-3 mm, lower lobe 1-1.2 × 0.4-0.8 cm, notch 4-6 mm, dorsal auricle small, 1-2 mm, yellow; stamens 5, short and broad, anthers cohering; ovary oblong, 5-celled; ovules many; stigma sessile, 5-lobed; capsule oblong, ca. 1 cm long, subfalcate, loculicidal dehiscent, valves 5, many seeded. Seeds tubercled, ca. 1 × 0.3 mm, oblong, golden yellow, densely hairy on both ends.
Flowering and fruiting: July-September 
Evergreen forests
Southern Western Ghats (Endemic)
 


 
 
 
A new scapigerous Impatiens from Kerala [1 Attachment]:  Please go through the attachment- a new species of scapigerous Impatiens from Wayanad, Kerala, Western Ghats.

 
 
 
 

References:

India Biodiversity Portal  

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