Impatiens salimii K.M.P. Kumar & A. Reshma, 2023

Prabhukumar, K. M., Ashok, Reshma, Prakash, P. M. Binu & Balachandhran, Indira, 2023, A new spurless species of Impatiens sect. Microsepalae (Balsaminaceae) from south India, Phytotaxa 616 (1), pp. 107-112 : 109

Impatiens salimii K.M.P. Kumar & A. Reshma sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 )

Type:— India. Kerala: Wayanad, Meppadi, Kalladi , Thollayiram forest , ± 1500 m, 21 September 2013, K. M . Prabhukumar & P. M . Binu Prakash 8478 (holotype, LWG: isotype, CMPR, MH, CATH) .

Diagnosis: The new species, Impatiens salimii shows morphological similarities with I. dasysperma Wight (1837: 7) by means of its small sepals, alternately arranged leaves, flowers without peduncle and brown seeds but distinct in many attributes viz. glabrous stem (vs. puberulose or densely hairy at growing points), pubescent lower sepal (vs. glabrous or puberulent), absence of spur (vs. present, 1.5–1.8 cm long), obcordate standard petal with mucronate apex (vs. obovate or obcordate petal with cuneate apex), basal lobe and distal lobe wide from each other, distal lobe spathulate (vs. basal lobe and distal lobe close to each other, distal lobe with acute tip), absence of dorsal auricle (vs. present) and pubescent capsule (vs. glabrous), Table 1 .

Terrestrial, erect annual herb, 20–35 cm tall; stem quadrangular, branched; internodes 4–5 cm long, green, sparsely pubescent on young shoots and glabrous on mature; nodes purple. Leaves simple, alternate, petiolate; lamina 4–8 × 2–4 cm, elliptic, cuneate at base, margins crenate with spines at each crenation, apex acuminate, whitish green at abaxial side and green at adaxial side, veins are pubescent at lower surface and pubescent throughout on upper surface; petiole 1.5–2.5 cm long, channelled, 2 or 3 pairs of glands at base, green, sparsely pubescent. Flowers axillary, usually solitary, rarely in pair or three, pedicellate; pedicel 2.5–3.5 cm long, canaliculate, green with a purple tinge, pubescent. Lateral sepals 2, 1–3 × 1–3 mm, ovate, acute, pale green with purple tip, pubescent; lower sepal 3–5 × 3–5 mm, boat-shaped, apex acuminate, base broad, 3-nerved, white, pubescent; spur absent. Standard petal 5–8 × 4–5 mm, obcordate, apex mucronate, base truncate to obtuse, pink, inside white, keeled; keel tip elongated, green; wing petals bi-lobed, basal lobe and distal lobe wide from each other; distal lobe short, 6–8 × 2–3 mm, spathulate, pink, glabrous; basal lobe 7–9 × 4–6 mm, apex notched, ovate, pink, base slightly protruding; dorsal auricle absent. Stamens 5, 4–5 × 2–3 mm, cohering, yellow; filaments short, upper 2 light purple, lower 3 white. Ovary 3–4 × 4–5 mm, ellipsoid, apex acuminate, 5-celled, green, glabrous; stigma hairy. Capsule ellipsoid, 13–18 × 5–8 mm, apex acuminate, green, pubescent; fruiting pedicel 2.5–3.5 cm, pubescent. Seeds many, 20–25, c. 10 × c. 10 mm, globose with oblique tip, thick short hairs throughout, creamy yellow.

Phenology:— July to November.

Etymology:— The species is named to honour Mr. Pichan M. Salim, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Kalpatta, Wayanad, Kerala, India, for his contribution to plant taxonomy and conservation. The author, PKM found this new species for the first time in the ex-situ conservatory of P.M. Salim, labelled as ‘ Impatiens dasysperma’ and the next day PKM found the same plants from the type locality.

Distribution and Ecology:— The new taxon has been collected from Thollayiram forest in Meppadi range of Wayanad district. Generally occurring on margins of evergreen forests as undergrowth at an elevation range of 1450– 1600 m asl.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Impatiens salimii sp. nov.A. & B. Twigs bearing flowers and fruits; C. Bud; D–F. Different views of single Flower; G. Floral parts: dorsal petal (dp), lateral sepal (las), lateral united petal (lup), lower sepal (los); wing petals (pet); H. Ovary; I. Single fruit; J. & K. Seeds (Photos: KM Prabhukumar).