Impatiens gongshanensis Y.L.Chen

Smets, E. F. & Janssens, S. B., 2018, Balsaminaceae of Myanmar, Blumea 63 (3), pp. 199-267 : 255-256

64. Impatiens gongshanensis Y.L.Chen — Map 21; Plate 4f

Impatiens gongshanensis Y.L. Chen (2000) 560. — Type: Qinghai­Xizang Exped. 9165 (holo PE PE00039545*;iso PE PE00039546*,PE PE00039547*), China, Yunnan, Gongshan, Dulongjiang-Qiujiang valley ,alt. 1200–1300 m, 9 Aug. 1984.

Terrestrial, glabrous herb, 10–35 cm tall. Stem erect to decumbent in the lower part, 1–3 mm diam, unbranched to rarely branched at decumbent part, green, glabrous. Leaves spirally arranged. Petiole 5–15 mm long, <1 mm diam, glabrous. Lamina 50–90 by 10–15 mm, narrowly elliptic to narrowly oblanceolate, apex acute, base cuneate, margin serrate, adaxial green, abaxial pale green, glabrous, without glands; lateral veins 5–8 pairs. Inflorescence subterminal to axillary, erect, 1- or 2-flowered raceme. Peduncle 13–20 mm long, c. 1 mm diam, green, glabrous. Rachis 5 mm long, <1 mm diam, green, glabrous. Flowers 25–35 mm long, 35–40 mm deep, purple. Bracts 3–4 by 1–2 mm, elliptic to lanceolate, apex acute, base obtuse, margin entire, green, glabrous, persistent. Pedicel 9–20 mm long, <1 mm diam, green, glabrous. Lateral sepals 2, 6–10 by 4–7 mm, free, obliquely obovate, apex acute and mucronate, base obtuse, green with red dots, glabrous. Lower sepal 16–20 mm long, 13–16 mm deep, bucciniform, apex acute and mucronate, pinkish orange with red reticulations and yellow base, glabrous, distal part gradually tapering into a curved spur with spiral end, 20–30 mm long. Dorsal petal 13–15 by 12–17 mm, broadly ovate, cucullate, apex obtuse, base truncate, purple, glabrous, abaxial midvein with a crescent-shaped crest, 2–3 mm high. Lateral united petals 30–33 mm long, free: the upper petals 14–16 by 10–11 mm, broadly obovate, apex truncate, base cuneate, purple; the lower petals 20–22 by 8–9 mm, free, elliptic, apex obtuse, base with distinct auricle, pink, glabrous. Stamens: filaments pale pink to white; anthers obtuse, white to pale pink. Ovary c. 5 mm long, c. 1 mm diam, green, glabrous. Fruits 19–20 mm long, 3–4 mm diam, long fusiform, 5-lobed, green, glabrous; pedicel at fruiting stage 13–15 mm long, straight. Seeds unknown

Phenology — Flowering: August to October.

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

Ecology — Growing in mossy areas of running streams,

1200–1300 m altitude.

Other collections examined. MYANMAR, Kachin State, Kingdon­Ward 7302 (K H2015/00092 12), Putao, Valley of the Lam Tawai , N28°00' E97°35', 4000 ft, 16 Aug. 1926 ; Saw­Lwin 1025 (L), Saw­Lwin 1027 (L), Saw­Lwin 1075 (L), Kachin State, 26 Oct. 2015 .

Note — Impatiens gongshanensis is very similar to I. pulchra but differs in having purple flowers. It is also similar to I. delicata and I. erubescens in overall size, leaf shape and flower colour, but differs in having a curved spur with a spiral end.