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| Impatiens tainingensis J.-D.Lin & P.Li, in Wang, Lin, B. Li, J. Li, Jin et P. Li, 2026. Photos by Jie-Dong Lin Drawn by Bo-Heng Li |
Abstract
Impatiens tainingensis J.-D.Lin & P.Li, sp. nov., is described and illustrated. It was collected from a moist valley of Mt. Zhuangyuanyan, Fujian Province, in Southeastern China. It resembles Impatiens platysepala Y.L. Chen, I. kuocangshanica (X.F. Jin & F.G. Zhang) X.F. Jin & Y.L. Xu and I. huangyanensis subsp. attenuata X.F. Jin & Z.H. Chen in the gross morphology of their pinkish purple flowers but differs in having smaller lateral sepals, subsaccate-funnel form lower sepals, shorter spurs, and capsules. The molecular phylogeny of Impatiens based on plastome and ITS sequences indicated that I. tainingensis is closely related to I. platysepala and I. wuyiensis J.S. Wang, Y.F. Lu & X.F. Jin, but morphology, phylogeny, and plastome structural variation comparison provide evidence for recognizing it as a distinct species.
Key words: Balsaminaceae, Impatiens kuocangshanica, I. tainingensis, I. wuyiensis, new species
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| Impatiens tainingensis. A. Habitat; B. Whole plant; C. Flower, lateral view; D. Inflorescence; E. Flower, front view; F. Flower, lateral view; G. Flower structure and capsule. (Photos by Jie-Dong Lin). |
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| Painted illustration of Impatiens tainingensis. (Drawn by Bo-Heng Li). |
Impatiens tainingensis J.-D.Lin & P.Li, sp. nov.
Diagnosis. Impatiens tainingensis is similar to I. platysepala, I. kuocangshanica and I. huangyanensis subsp. attenuata in pinkish purple flowers. But I. tainingensis differs from I. platysepala by its bracts green, persistent, linear-lanceolate, 1–2 mm long; lower sepal subsaccate-funnelform, spur 1.5–1.8 cm long. I. tainingensis is distinct from I. kuocangshanica and I. huangyanensis subsp. attenuata in having lower sepal subsaccate-funnelform, spur 1.5–1.8 cm long; lateral sepals suborbicular, callous, 6–8 × 5–8 mm; capsules fusiform, 1.5–2.0 cm long and seeds 2.0 × 1.0 mm.
Meizhen Wang, Jiedong Lin, Boheng Li, Junlong Li, Xinjie Jin and Pan Li. 2026. Impatiens tainingensis (Balsaminaceae), A New Species from southeastern China. PhytoKeys. 269: 235-252. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.269.173115