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| Impatiens pfutserensis S.Singh, B.Singh & M.Bhuyan, in S.Singh, B.Singh, Bhuyan et Phukan, 2026. |
Abstract
A new species of Balsam, Impatiens pfutserensis S.Singh, B.Singh & M.Bhuyan, belonging to Impatiens sect. Racemosae Hook.f. & Thomson, is described herein from the Phek District of Nagaland, India. The species is distinguished by a unique combination of diagnostic characters: unwinged stems lacking swollen nodes, forward-directed marginal leaf teeth, an eight-flowered inflorescence, and pink flowers with white patches. It is further characterized by a long spur and a ridged capsule. While morphologically similar to I. stenantha Hook.f. and I. prainii Hook.f., I. pfutserensis differs from both in several key traits. Inhabiting subtropical montane forest ecosystems, the species is presented here with detailed data on its morphology, distribution, phenology, and conservation status, alongside photographic documentation to facilitate accurate identification.
Keyword: Balsaminaceae, biodiversity hotspot, eastern Himalaya, Impatiens pfutserensis, Indo-Burma, Nagaland, new taxon
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| Impatiens pfutserensis: A. natural habit, B. single leaf, C. different parts of a complete flower, D. inflorescence E. close look of complete flower, F. capsule. |
Impatiens pfutserensis S.Singh, B.Singh & M.Bhuyan, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: The new species is morphologically similar to Impatiens stenantha Hook.f. (Table 1), but can be distinguished with the later by its plant habit (succulent vs. non-succulent), plant height (15–30 cm tall vs. 40–90 cm tall, node (not swollen vs. swollen), stem (not winged vs. winged), lateral veins (4–6 pairs vs. 7–11 pairs), inflorescence (8- flowered vs. 3–4 flowered); flower colour (pink with white patches vs. yellow with dark red spots), longer spur (2.5–2.8 cm vs. 1.7–2.2 cm), capsule (clavate to subfusiform vs. linear). The new species is also resembling I. prainii Hook.f., and varies by its stem (unbranched, hollow, translucentgreen to reddish with adventitious roots vs. branched, solid), leaves (without stipule vs. distinct glandular stipule), inflorescence (8-flowered vs. 2 or 3-flowered), lower sepal (with long curved spur vs. short straight spur), and capsule (clavate vs. linear).
Sumit Singh, Bikarma Singh, Mantu Bhuyan and Tridip Phukan. 2026. A New Species of Impatiens from Nagaland, India. Taiwania. 71(2); 263-267. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2026.71.263 [25 March 2026]
