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| Impatiens godfreyi P.S.S. Richard & Karupp. in Richard, Karuppusamy & Ravichandran, 2022. |
Abstract
Impatiens godfreyi, a new species from mid-elevation evergreen forests of Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, southern Western Ghats, is described and illustrated. The new species is similar to I. disotis Hook.f. and mainly differs in having perennial branched woody subshrub up to 200 cm high, ovate-elliptic leaves, 2–3-flowered umbel inflorescence, orbicular standard petals with large scarlet-red speckled inside, overlapping lateral corolla lobes with mucronate apex, single lobed distal corolla lobe with a rounded apex and obconical lip with a tubular incurved spur. The morphological characters, distribution, phenology, conservation status, photographs, and taxonomical key for the section subumbellatae are provided for easy identification.
Keywords: Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, Endemic, Impatiens, New species, Tamil Nadu, Taxonomy
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| Impatiens godfreyi P.S.S. Richard & Karupp.: A, habit: B, leaf; C, inflorescence; D, flower – lateral view; E, flower – front view; F, flower petals – dissected; G, Anther; H, Capsule; I, Seeds. |
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| Impatiens godfreyi P.S.S. Richard & Karupp.: A, habit; B, leaf; C, inflorescence; D, flower – lateral view; E, flower – front view; F, Anther; G, flower petals – dissected; H, Capsule; I, Seeds. |
Impatiens godfreyi P.S.S. Richard and Karupp. sp. nov.
Diagnosis. Impatiens godfreyi is morphologically similar to I. disotis, but it can be easily distinguished by perennial branched, woody habit (vs. annual unbranched herbaceous), ovate-elliptic leaves with 5–8 cm long petiole (vs. ovate-lanceolate leaves with 4 cm petiole), 2–3-flowered umbel inflorescence (vs. 6–8-flowered raceme), orbicular standard petal with large orbicular scarlet-red patch inside and emarginate apex (vs. ovate standard with purplish red patch inside, acute apex), large obovate lateral corolla lobe overlapping on distal one with a rounded tip and mucronate apex (vs. small oblong lateral corolla lobe not overlapping on distal one with obovate tip and acute apex), single lobed distal corolla, rounded at apex, obliquely clefted near the inner apex (vs. two-lobed distal corolla with acute apex), obconical golden yellow lip (vs. boat-shaped pale yellow lip), 12–20 mm long tubular incurved spur (vs. 6–13 mm long dilated spur). The flowers with a mixture of yellow, green, red, and white combination of balsam flowers are quite unique in this group, and therefore, permits easy identification (Table 1).
Eponym: This species is named in honor of Mr. C. Godfrey Webb-Peploe, a Christian missionary, social worker, and naturalist from the Dohnavur Fellowship, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, to recognize his pioneering efforts to study, document, and conserve the mega fauna and flora of Tirunelveli hills, southern Western Ghats. His “Field notes on the mammals of south Tirunelveli, South India,” published in the year 1947, is the earliest record on the fauna of this region. Before publishing the floristic data, Godfrey faced early death in his 30s on 19th February 1949. He also illustrated the same species in his field note.
Paulraj Selva Singh Richard, Subbiah Karuppusamy and Vellingiri Ravichandran. 2022. Impatiens godfreyi (Balsaminaceae), A New Species of Balsam from the southern Western Ghats, India. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity. 15(1); 138-144. DOI: 10.1016/j.japb.2021.12.001
