Sunday, June 23, 2024

[Botany • 2024] Impatiens karenensis (Balsaminaceae) • A New tiny flowered Species from Myanmar


 Impatiens karenensis Chit Soe Paing & Ruchis., 

in Paing, Suksathan et Ruchisansakun, 2024.  

Abstract
Impatiens karenensis (I. sect. Semeiocardium) from Kayin State, Myanmar is described and illustrated here. It is most similar to I. micromeris, but differs in having lower petals with outer margins strongly undulate in the lower half (vs. lower petals entire), apex of upper petals acute to obtuse (vs. apex rounded), short stout spur, ± as long as the depth of lower sepal, ca. 2.5 mm long (vs. long attenuate spur, twice as long as the depth of lower sepal, ca. 5 mm long). Its conservation status is also assessed as Critically Endangered.

Key words: Critically endangered, endemic, Kayin State, limestone species, Southeast Asia


 Impatiens karenensis Chit Soe Paing & Ruchis.
A habit B flower, front view C flower, side view D inner lateral sepals E outer lateral sepals F–H lower sepal I–J dorsal petal K lateral united petals L ovary, pedicel and bract M fruit (from Chit Soe Paing 002).
Drawn by S. Ruchisansakun.

 Impatiens karenensis Chit Soe Paing & Ruchis. in vivo
A flower, front view B flowers, side view C habit.
Photographed by Chit Soe Paing.

 Impatiens karenensis Chit Soe Paing & Ruchis., sp. nov. 
 
Diagnosis: Impatiens karenensis resembles I. micromeris, but differs in having lower petals with outer margins strongly undulate in the lower-half (vs. lower petals entire), apex of upper petals acute to obtuse (vs. rounded), short stout spur, ± as long as the depth of lower sepal, ca. 2.5 mm long (vs. long attenuate spur, twice as long as the depth of lower sepal, ca. 5 mm long).

Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the former name of the state of its type locality “Karen”.
 

 Chit Soe Paing, Piyakaset Suksathan and Saroj Ruchisansakun. 2024.  Impatiens karenensis (Balsaminaceae), A New tiny flowered Species from Myanmar. PhytoKeys. 243: 113-119. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.243.123303