Impatiens chimiliensis H.F.Comber

Smets, E. F. & Janssens, S. B., 2018, Balsaminaceae of Myanmar, Blumea 63 (3), pp. 199-267 : 230

25. Impatiens chimiliensis H.F.Comber — Map 10

Impatiens chimiliensis H.F. Comber (1934) 246; W.J. Kress et al. (2003) 169; Y.L. Chen et al. (2007) 61. — Type: Forrest 24931 (holo E00841623; iso E00848145), Myanmar, Kachin State, western flank of the Chimili, N’Maikha-Salwin divide, N26°23' E98°48', alt. 11000 ft, Sept. 1924.

Perennial herb with fascicled roots, 60–125 cm tall. Stem up to 5 mm diam, erect, rarely branched, glabrous. Leaves spirally arranged. Petiole 15–20 mm long, glabrous. Lamina 55–65 by 40–50 mm, ovate to broadly ovate to orbicular, apex acute to truncate, base ovate and acuminate, margin serrate, membranous, adaxial green and pilose, abaxial pale green and glabrous, no distinct glands present, but 2 pairs of hair present at the base; lateral veins 4–7 pairs. Inflorescence axillary, erect, 3–9-flowered raceme. Peduncle up to 35 mm long, glabrous. Rachis c. 12 mm long, c. 1 mm diam. Flowers more than 22 mm long, up to 22 mm deep, yellow sometimes with purple tinge. Bracts 3–4 by 2–3 mm, ovate to elliptic, apex acuminate, base obtuse, margin entire, glabrous, persistent. Pedicel 18–20 mm long, glabrous. Lateral sepals 4: the upper pair up to 6 mm long, obliquely ovate, apex acute; the lower pair c. 7 by 4 mm, free, obliquely ovate, apex acute and mucronate, base obtuse, glabrous. Lower sepal up to 17 by 10 mm, 19–25 mm deep, bucciniform, apex acute and mucronate, glabrous, abruptly constricted into a curved spur, 4–8 mm long, bifid. Dorsal petal 7–8 mm, orbicular, flat, apex emarginate, mucronate, abaxial midvein with narrow crest. Lateral united petals 25–30 mm, free: the upper petals broadly ovate; the lower petals elliptic-lanceolate, apex obtuse, base broadly auricled. Stamens: filaments c. 5 mm; anthers obtuse. Ovary unknown. Fruits c. 20 mm long, linear. Seeds unknown.

Phenology — Flowering: July to October; fruiting: July to October.

Distribution — Myanmar (Kachin State), China (Tibet Province, Yunnan Province).

Ecology — Shaded and humid places at thicket margins and streamsides, c. 3200 m altitude.

Other collection examined. MYANMAR, Kachin State, Forrest 27237 (para BM), western frank of the Chimili, N’Maikha-Salwin divide, N26°25' E98°48', alt. 12000–13000 ft, Sept. 1925 .

Note — Impatiens chimiliensis is most similar to I. duclouxii but differs in having a longer peduncle, a longer rachis, broader lamina and a straight spur. Comber (1934) clearly designated G. Forrest 24931 deposited in E as type specimen.