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| Impatiens theuerkaufiana Ratheesh & Sivadasan, in Narayanan, Joseph, Kumar, Sivadasan et Alfarhan, 2013. |
Abstract
Impatiens theuerkaufiana, a new scapigerous species of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) from Wayanad district, Kerala, India is described and illustrated. It differs from I. dendricola by having entire lateral sepals, a transversely elliptic, bilobed dorsal petal with wavy margins, a short straight spur less than 5 mm long, and tuberculate seeds; from I. agumbeana by having pendulous linear lanceolate leaves, shorter pedicels up to 3.5 cm long, non-auricled lateral united petals, and an ellipsoid capsule; and from I. stocksii by having long petioles of 5–8 cm, an elliptic lanceolate leaf lamina, long pedicels of 2.0–3.5 cm, and a pouch-like short spur.
Keywords: Endemic species, Kerala, new species, Wayanad
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| Impatiens theuerkaufiana Ratheesh & Sivadasan. A. Habit. B. Bract. C. Single flower. D. Lateral sepal. E. Lower sepal with spur. F. Dorsal petal, dorsal view. G. Lateral united petals. H. Stamens. I. Pistil. J. Fruit. K. Seed. Drawings by Jayesh P. Joseph from living specimens. |
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| Impatiens theuerkaufiana Ratheesh & Sivadasan. A. Habit. B. Inflorescence. C. Flower. D. Young fruit. Photos by M. K. Ratheesh Narayanan. |
Impatiens theuerkaufiana Ratheesh & Sivadasan, sp. nov.
The new species resembles I. dendricola and I. agumbeana, but differs by having the lower sepal with a short spur up to5 mm long, the dorsal petal transversely elliptic, basally and distally bilobed, wavy-margined, the lateral unitedpetals non-auricled, and a tuberculate seed coat. It differs from I. agumbeana by having pendulous linear lanceolateleaves, white flowers with a short pedicel up to 3.5 cm long, and ellipsoid capsules; and from I. stocksii by having along petiole of 5–8 cm, an elliptic lanceolate leaf lamina, longer pedicels of 2.0–3.5 cm, and a pouch-like short spur.
Eponymy:— The specific epithet is in honor of Mr. Wolfgang D. Theuerkauf, founder of the Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary, Alattil, North Wayanad, Kerala and an ardent naturalist and botanist who devoted his life for conservation of wild plants of Western Ghats, and creating awareness and imparting education on nature, natural resources, and conservation.
M. K. Ratheesh Narayanan, Jayesh P. Joseph, N. Anil Kumar, M. Sivadasan and Ahmed H. Alfarhan. 2013. Impatiens theuerkaufiana (Balsaminaceae), A New Scapigerous Species from the Western Ghats, India. Phytotaxa. 83(1):54-60. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.83.1.3
