Impatiens kerriae Craib, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1926

Souvannakhoummane, K., Newman, M. F., Lanorsavanh, S. & Suksathan, P., 2021, Impatiens rostrata (Balsaminaceae), a new species from Khammouane Province, Laos, and nine new records, Edinburgh Journal of Botany 78 (362), pp. 1-15 : 9-10

Impatiens kerriae Craib, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1926 , 4: 161 (1926); Ruchisansakun et al., Blumea 63: 214 (2018).

– Type: Thailand, Chiang Mai, Doi Chiangdao , 1800 m in altitude, 3 xi 1922, Kerr 6544 (lectotype ABD n.v.; isolectotypes BK n.v [ BK257749 ], BM! [BM000797447], K! [K000675564], designated by Ruchisansakun et al., 2018).

Figure 4A–C .

Distribution. This species has now been discovered in Louangphabang Province, northern Laos. It was originally described from Thailand by Craib (1926) and has also been reported from Myanmar ( Ruchisansakun et al., 2018).

Habitat and ecology. Impatiens kerriae was found growing in an open area on the summit of a limestone mountain, about 1100–1800 m a.s.l., associated with Polygala sp. ( Polygalaceae ), Hedychium villosum Wall. ( Zingiberaceae ), Hoya sp. ( Apocynaceae ) and Gesneriaceae .

Phenology. Flowering from June to October, fruiting from September to December.

Specimen examined. LAOs. Louangphabang Province: Nan District, Namueng village , 19°30′11.5′′N, 102°03′39.9′′E, 1200 m altitude, 18 vi 2015, Phoutthavong, K., Nura Abdul Karim & Souvannakhoummane, K. s.n. ( SING, flowers in spirit at Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden) .

Vegetatively, this species is close to Impatiens parishii Hook. f. but differs in having the pedicel as long as or longer than the petiole (versus much shorter than petiole); the lateral united petals are grooved with orange to red mixed with yellow (versus flat and only with a yellow patch at the middle). It usually grows at high elevation in open limestone areas, whereas Impatiens parishii grows at low elevation, 300– 500 m.

Figures

Figure 4. A–C, Impatiens kerriae: A, plant with flower; B, front view of flower; C, lateral view of flower. D–F, Impatiens napoensis: D, plant with flower; E, front view of flower; F, lateral view of flower. G–I, Impatiens parishii: G, plant; H, front view of flower; I, lateral view of flower. Scale bars: 1 cm. Photographs: A–C, K and L, K. Phoutthavong; D–J, K. Souvannakhoummane.