Friday, January 15, 2021

[Botany • 2021] Impatiens sterilis (Balsaminaceae) • A Rare New Species of Impatiens with reduced sterile inflorescences from Yunnan, China


Impatiens sterilis Y. Y. Cong & Y. X. Song, 

in Song, Cong, ... et Zheng. 2021. 
  絲序鳯仙花  ||  taiwania.ntu.edu.tw 

Abstract
Impatiens sterilis (Balsaminaceae), discovered in Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated here. It belongs to I. section Racemosae and is related to I. scutisepala. I. sterilis differs from the latter species in the shape of the leaf blades and the lower sepal, the number of lateral sepals, and producing some reduced sterile inflorescences at the end of anthesis. Detailed notes on morphology, key diagnostic characters, distribution, pollen and seed morphology, conservation status and color photographs are provided for the identification of the new species.

Keyword: Balsaminaceae, China, Impatiens scutisepala, morphology, pollen, taxonomy



     

Fig. 2. Impatiens sterilis Y.Y. Cong & Y.X. Song, sp. nov.
A. Habit; B. Flower branches; C. Inflorescences; D. Sterile inflorescences and basal portion of fertile inflorescences; E. F. Flower in front view; G. H. Flower in lateral view; I. Capsules; J. Flower anatomy.

Fig. 1. Impatiens sterilis Y. Y. Cong & Y. X. Song, sp. nov.
 A. Upper part of plant; B. Lower part of plant; C. Basal portion of adaxial leaf surface; D. Flower in front view; E. Flower in lateral view; F. Outer lateral sepals; G. Inner lateral sepals; H. Dorsal petal; I. Lateral united petal; J. Lower sepal; K. Androecium; L. Capsule.

Impatiens sterilis Y. Y. Cong & Y. X. Song, sp. nov. 
 絲序鳯仙花

Type: CHINA. Yunnan, Tengchong County, Jietou Township, Shaba Village, at the edge of bamboo forest near the top of the mountain, ..., 3296 m, 14 September 2008, Yi-Yan Cong 791435 (holotype: HNNU; isotype: HNNU). 

Diagnosis: Impatiens sterilis is most similar to I. scutisepala Hook. f. (1984), but can be distinguished by the leaf blades oblong to ovate, membranaceous, base suborbicular, lower sepal cup-shaped with purple spotted, lateral sepals 4, producing filiform reduced and sterile inflorescences at the later stage of the florescence. 

Etymology: The specific epithet "sterilis" refers to the sterile inflorescences that grow on the inner side of fertile inflorescences of the new species.


Yong-Xiu Song, Yi-Yan Cong, Ren-Ping Kuang, Yang-Cheng Peng and Yi-Ming Zheng. 2021. Impatiens sterilis, A Rare New Species of Impatiens with reduced sterile inflorescences from Yunnan, China. Taiwania. 66(1); 48-52. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2021.66.48 

      

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