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| Impatiens nimspurjae Raskoti, in Raskoti & Ale, 2022. |
Abstract
Impatiens nimspurjae (Impatiens, Balsaminaceae), a new species from Nepal is described based on molecular data and morphological characters. Notes on the diagnostic characters used to distinguish it from allied taxa are provided. I. nimspurjae is closely related with taxon belonging to sect. Racemosae (I. harae, I. radiata, I. wallichii, I. urticifolia) in having many-flowered racemose inflorescences, lateral sepals 2 (very rarely 4 with inner 2 reduced), capsule linear, seed ovoid, but differs by its sessile leaves, upper lobe of lower united petal not truncated, spur flattened at base. With the discovery of this new species and five species new records to Nepal, a checklist of Balsaminaceae having 57 species (8 endemic) in Nepal is updated. An identification key to the species of Imaptiens in Nepal is also provided.
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| Impatiens nimspurjae Raskoti: A. Flowering plant; B. Leaf; C. flower, side view; D. Dorsal petal (dorsal view); E. lateral united sepals (ventral view); F. lateral united sepals (dorsal view); G. Lateral sepal; H. Lower sepal; I. Ovary, pistil, pedicel and bract; J. Capsule; K. seeds. Photographs by Bhakta Bahadur Raskoti. |
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| Line drawings of Impatiens nimspurjae Raskoti: A. Flowering plant; B. Leaf; C. flower, side view; D. Flower (front view); E. Dorsal sepal; F. lateral sepals; G. Lateral united sepals (front view); H. Lateral united sepal (back view); I. Lower sepal; J. Ovary, pistil, pedicel and bract; K. Capsule; L. Seeds. Line drawings assisted by Neera Joshi Pradhan. |
Impatiens nimspurjae Raskoti, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Impatiens nimspurjae is closely related to I. harae, I. radiata, I. wallichii but differ from these species by having sessile oblong-lanceolate leaves, flowers less than 3 in each peduncle, base of the spur flattened, apex of dorsal petal rounded, basal lobe of lateral united petal widely ovate, not truncated.
Etymology: The species epithet ‘nimspurjae’ refers to the name of Mr. Nirmal Purja (nickname Nimsdai) for his initiation on conservation through climate change champion. Mr. Purja is a world-renowned mountaineer from Nepal and has dozens of Guinness book world records in the field of mountaineering.
Distribution and habitat: Impatiens nimspurjae is known from the type locality in western Nepal where it occurs in the temperate forest and forest margins at an elevation range of 2800–2900 m. It grows on moist humus rich slopes.
Conclusions:
With the discovery of this new species and five additional species new records to Nepal, a total 57 species of Impatiens (8 endemic species) were confirmed in the updated checklist of Balsaminaceae in Nepal. We strongly recommend that the future authors should integrate morphological and molecular data for the recognition and description of new species of Impatiens. Furthermore, we propose more robust studies (sampling population level) for the clarification of taxonomic position of I. bicornuta as well as taxonomic identity of its different polymorphic forms.
Bhakta Bahadur Raskoti and Rita Ale. 2022. A New Species of Impatiens and Updated Checklist of Balsaminaceae in Nepal. PLoS ONE. 17(10): e0274699. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274699
