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| Impatiens cavaleriei X.X.Bai & R.X.Huang, in Huang, He, Chen, Li & Bai, 2023. |
Abstract
Impatiens cavaleriei X.X.Bai & R.X.Huang, sp. nov. from the Miaoling Mountains of Guizhou, belonging to I. sect. Uniflorae, is described and illustrated here. While I. cavaleriei morphologically resembles I. notolopha Maximowicz and I. undulata Y.L.Chen & Y.Q.Lu in ovate or ovate-elliptic leaves, yellow flowers and a cymbiform lower sepal, this new species can be easily distinguished by its comprehensive characteristics, including a slightly transparent capsule, lateral united petals clawed, 2-flowered, and seed surface with warty protrusions. A detailed description, color photographs and a provisional IUCN Red List assessment are provided along with discussions of the geographical distribution and morphological relationships of I. cavaleriei with similar species.
Keyword: Balsaminaceae, Guizhou, Impatiens notolopha, Impatiens undulata, Pierre Julien Cavalerie, sect. Uniflorae
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| Impatiens cavaleriei A. plant, B. flower, C. leaf, D. dissected flower, E. anther, F. capsule, G. seeds. Drawn by Bai-qiu He. |
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| Impatiens cavaleriei A. habit, B. plant, C. flower in face view, D. capsule, E. root, F. leaf, G. dissected flower, H. buds, I. flower, J. capsule, K. seeds. Photographs by Xin-xiang Bai. |
Impatiens cavaleriei X.X.Bai & R.X.Huang, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: This new species is most similar to Impatiens notolopha Maximowicz in terms of its leaf morphology, yellow flowers and cymbiform lower sepal, but it can be distinguished from the latter by 2-flowered (vs. 3–5-flowered), flower 1.8–2.8 cm long (vs. ca. 1 cm long), dorsal petal abaxial mid-vein slightly thickened, apex mucronulate (vs. broadly carinate, green, apex rounded), anther acute (vs. obtuse) and seed ellipsoid (vs. smooth). The new species is also similar to I. undulata Y.L.Chen & Y.Q.Lu, but they are different in dorsal petal abaxial mid-vein slightly thickened, apex mucronulate (vs. carinate, green, apex rounded), lateral united petals clawed (vs. sessile) and distal lobes apex slightly acute (vs. retuse).
Etymology: The specific epithet ‘cavaleriei’ is in honor of Pierre Julien Cavalerie (1869–1927), a French missionary who collected plant specimens in Guizhou in early years.
Vernacular name: 苗嶺鳳仙花 (Chinese name);
Miáo Lĭng Fèng Xiān Huā (Chinese pronunciation).
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| Comparison of A: Impatiens cavaleriei (A-B), I. undulata (C-E) and its congener B: I. notolopha (F-H). A. flower in face view, B. flower in lateral view, C. plant, D. flower in face view, E. flower in lateral view, F. plant, G. flower in face view, H. flower in lateral view. Photographs by Xin-xiang Bai (A-B), Guo-jun Hua (C) and De-chang Meng (D-H). |
Rong-Xin Huang, Bai-Qiu He, Yi Chen, Mei-Jun Li and Xin-Xiang Bai. 2023. Impatiens cavaleriei (Balsaminaceae), A New Species from the Miaoling Mountains in Guizhou Province, China. Taiwania. 68(1) 85-89. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2023.68.85