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| Impatiens selvasinghii Bharath & Karupp., in Yadav, Karuppusamy et Kumbhar, 2025. |
Abstract
Imaptiens selvasinghii Bharath & Karupp., an interesting new species of Balsaminaceae is described with a photographic figure from the Western Ghats of Kudremukha peak, Karnataka state, India. The detailed description of new taxon along with diagnostic characters between closely allied species, photographs, and distribution are provided to facilitate the easy identification. A provisional conservation status is also accessed according to IUCN Red Data Categories.
Keyword: Impatiens herbicola, Karnataka, Kudremukha peak, new species, smallest flower, taxonomy
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| Impatiens selvasinghii. A. Flowering twig. B. flower front view. C. Anther and stamens. D. Flower with gynoecium. E. Flower side view. F. Leaf adaxial view. G. Leaf abaxial view. H. Standard petal. I. Lateral united petals. J. lip. K. Seeds. L. Capsule. |
Impatiens selvasinghii Bharath & Karupp. sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Impatiens selvasinghii Bharath & Karupp., is allied to Impatiens herbicola Hook.f., but differs by absence of extra petiolar gland (vs present), lanceolate to oblanceolate leaves (vs linear lanceolate), pendulous flowers (vs erect), large basal lobe, 0.5–0.8 mm (vs very small, less than 0.2 mm), lip without spur (vs lip with saccate spur), seeds 10–12 (vs many). Especially the smallest flower size 4 mm across among the known balsams and prominently lobed wing petals makes this species unique from its allied species (Table 1 & Fig. S1)
