Impatiens sarissiformis C.E.C.Fisch.

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

24. Impatiens sarissiformis C.E.C.Fisch. — Map 10

Impatiens sarissiformis C.E.C.Fisch. (1926) 467; W.J. Kress et al. (2003) 170. — Type: Parkinson 373 (holo K K000694743), Myanmar, Kachin State, Myitkyina District , 6 Dec. 1925.

Terrestrial, annual herb, 30–34 cm tall. Stem lower portion decumbent, upper portion erect, up to 9 mm diam, simple to moderately branched on decumbent part, angular with short wings, green to purple, glabrous. Leaves spirally arranged. Petiole absent – 15 mm long, 1–2 mm diam, flat, glabrous. Lamina 50–90 by 3–13 mm, linear-oblong, apex acute, base cuneate, margin serrate, coriaceous, adaxial dark green, abaxial pale green, glabrous, with one pair of red clavate glands at petiole base; lateral veins 4–6 pairs. Inflorescence axillary to subterminal, erect, (2–)6–20-flowered raceme. Peduncle 22–40 mm long, c. 1 mm diam, angular, green, glabrous. Rachis 2–60 mm long, c. 1 mm diam. Flowers 15–20 mm long, asymmetric, deep yellow. Bracts c. 2 by <1 mm, elliptic to linear, apex acute, base obtuse to cuneate, margin entire, without glands, green, glabrous, caducous. Pedicel 10–14 mm long, c. 1 mm diam, green, glabrous. Lateral sepals 2, 2–5 by 1–2 mm, free, ovate, apex acuminate, base obtuse, glabrous. Lower sepal c. 8 mm long, c. 9 mm deep, deeply navicular, apex acute and mucronate, glabrous, distal part gradually tapering into a straight spur, 15–17 mm long. Dorsal petal unknown. Lateral united petals 19 mm long, free: the upper petals c. 10 by 3 mm, oblong, apex obtuse, base cuneate, yellow; the lower petals c. 12 by 2 mm, free, narrowly oblong. Stamens unknown. Ovary unknown. Fruits unknown. Seeds unknown.

Phenology — Flowering: September to December.

Distribution — Endemic to Myanmar (Kachin State), only known from the Myitkyina district.

Ecology — Growing near water or in stream beds.

Other collection examined. MYANMAR, Kachin State, Waung Po Khout Tonerflew 1868 (K H2015/00092 48), Myitkyina District, Pidaung chang, 5 Sept. 1926 .

Note — Impatiens sarissiformis is very similar to I. kachinensis but differs in having linear-oblong leaf lamina vs narrowly elliptic leaf lamina. The specimens of this species have incom- plete flowers. More specimens are needed to complete the description of this species. Fischer (1926) clearly designated C.E. Parkinson 373 deposited in K as the type specimen.