Impatiens pulchra var. burmanica, 2018

Smets, E. F. & Janssens, S. B., 2018, Balsaminaceae of Myanmar, Blumea 63 (3), pp. 199-267 : 257-258

b. var. burmanica (Hook.f.) Ruchis. & Suksathan , stat. nov. — Fig. 22; Map 22

Impatiens pulchra Hook.f.var. burmanica (Hook.f.) Ruchis. & Suksathan. — Impatiens burmanica Hook.f.(1905) 27,33;W.J. Kress et al. (2003) 169. — Type: Huk s.n. (lecto, designated here K K000694719), Myanmar, Upper Burma, Bhamo, June 1892.

Plant up to 40 cm tall. Stem stout, 3–6 mm diam, unbranched, glabrous. Leaves spirally arranged. Petiole 20–55 mm long, 1–3 mm diam, glabrous to remotely pilose. Lamina 70–130 by 35–60 mm, ovate to elliptic, margin serrate, sometimes with 1–4 pair(s) of glands on petiole; lateral veins 5–7 pairs. Inflorescence 2–5-flowered. Peduncle (35–) 50–60 mm long, green. Rachis 4–6 mm long. Flowers 20–35 mm long, 30–50 mm deep, orange. Bracts (2–)4–9 by 1 mm, green, abaxially pilose. Pedicel (22–) 24–30 mm long, green. Lateral sepals (6–)7–9 by 5–6 mm, broadly ovate, base obtuse, deep orange

Fig. 22 Impatiens pulchra Hook.f. var. burmanica (Hook.f.) Ruchis. & Suksathan. a. Habit; b. lateral view of flowers; c. lateral sepals; d. lower sepal; e. dorsal petal; f. lateral united petals; g. stamens; h. ovary. — Drawn by Saroj Ruchisansakun.

to green, abaxially pilose. Lower sepal 15–19 mm long, (10–) 12–15 mm deep, deep orange; spur, initially straight but distally curved, (23–) 30–35 mm long, orange with green tip. Dorsal petal 15–17 by 16–18 mm, elliptic, apex round, base obtuse, abaxial midvein with a crest, c. 1 mm high. Lateral united petals 24–30 mm long: the upper petals c. 14 by 9 mm, ovate to elliptic, apex obtuse, orange; the lower petals 13–14 by 7–9 mm, ovate, base with distinct auricle, orange. Stamens: filaments 5 mm long. Ovary 4 mm long, 1 mm diam. Fruits 20 mm long, 4 mm diam; pedicels at fruiting stage c. 26 mm long. Seeds unknown.

Phenology — Flowering: June to September; fruiting:August to September.

Distribution — Endemic to Myanmar (Kachin State).

Ecology — 400–1200 m altitude.

Other collections examined. MYANMAR, NE Burma,alt. 4000 ft, Toppin 2746 (BM,K H2015/00092 75,76,77,78); Kachin State, Kachin Hills:Kumtat 1600’ Pungyi Gyl 1250’, Toppin 4136 (K H2015/00092 79); Kachin Hills, Mokim s.n. (K K000694720), N27°45' E97°50', alt. 2000 ft, 6 Sept.1926, Kingdon­Ward 7373 (K); Bhamo, Palawaghahlaway, alt. 3000 ft, Sept. 1909, Cubitt 284 (K 2 sheets) .

Notes — Impatiens pulchra var. burmanica differs from I. pulchra var. pulchra in having a straight spur with an incurved tip ( Fig. 2 am, 22). Colour illustrations by Toppin of this taxon are deposited in the Kew Herbarium.

Hooker (1905) mentioned the locality but did not designate a type for I. burmanica . We found just one specimen, Huk s.n. (K000694719), matching the protologue ( Hooker 1905). Hence, we designate this specimen as lectotype for this species.