Monday, June 10, 2024

[Botany • 2024] Impatiens yingjingensis (Balsaminaceae) • A New Species from Sichuan, China


  Impatiens yingjingensis X.Q. Song, B.N. Song & Biao Yang, 
 
in X.Q. Song, B. Song, Fu, Wang, Liu, Qin, Jiang, Fan et Yang, 2024. 
荥经凤仙花  ||  DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.242.119702 

Abstract
This study describes Impatiens yingjingensis X.Q. Song, B.N. Song & Biao Yang, sp. nov., a new species collected from the Yingjing area of the Giant Panda National Park. This new species is distributed at an altitude of 1400–2100 m, with a plant height of 30–130 cm. The flowers are purple-red or light purple red, with 3–9 flowers on each inflorescence and the dorsal auricle of the lateral united petals is thread-like and about 2 cm long, differing significantly from other species of Impatiens. Furthermore, molecular data, as well as micro-morphological evidence under SEM (of pollens), also support the establishment of the new species.

Key words: Balsaminaceae, Giant Panda National Park, Impatiens, new species, Yingjing County


Habitat and morphology of Impatiens yingjingensis
A habitat B plants C leaf D flower branch E the floral anatomy of I. yingjingensis F, G flower, lateral view H flower, front view I, J capsule K seed.

Impatiens yingjingensis X.Q. Song, B.N. Song & Biao Yang, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Impatiens yingjingensis can be distinguished by the following morphological features from related species of Impatiens: purple-red or light purple-red flowers; inflorescence with 3–9 flowers; lower petal gradually narrowing at the base into a sickle-shaped spur approximately 2 cm long; lateral united petals 2-lobed, auricle linear approximately 2 cm, elongate and inserted into spur.

Etymology: The species is named after Yingjing County, Sichuan Province, China, which is the type locality. The Chinese name is given as “荥经凤仙花”.

 
 Xinqiang Song, Boni Song, Mingxia Fu, Jiacai Wang, Jingyi Liu, Weirui Qin, Yuzhou Jiang, Leni Fan and Biao Yang. 2024. Impatiens yingjingensis (Balsaminaceae), A New Species from Sichuan, China. PhytoKeys. 242: 293-306. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.242.119702