Impatiens putaoensis Y.H.Tan, S.S.Zhou & B.Yang

Smets, E. F. & Janssens, S. B., 2018, Balsaminaceae of Myanmar, Blumea 63 (3), pp. 199-267 : 251

56. Impatiens putaoensis Y.H.Tan, S.S.Zhou & B.Yang — Fig. 19; Map 19

Impatiens putaoensis Y.H.Tan et al. in Yang et al. (2017) 107. — Type: Myanmar Exped. 105 (holo HITBC*; iso KUN*, RAF*), Myanmar, Kachin State, Putao, Ghatu village , N27°43'28.99" E97°51'9.47",alt. 590 m, 25 Nov.2014.

Terrestrial, annual herb, 24–33 cm tall. Stem erect, c. 3 mm diam, simple, green, densely pilose. Leaves spirally arranged. Petiole 12–25 mm long, 1.5–2 mm diam, densely pilose, with 3 or 4 long hairs on each side of the petiole. Lamina 55–70 by 25–30 mm, elliptic, apex acute to acuminate, base cuneate, margin slightly serrate, adaxial green, abaxial pale green, pilose on both sides, with 1 or 2 long hairs on each side along the midrib near lamina base; lateral veins 4 or 5 pairs. Inflorescence axillary to subterminal, erect, 3–5-flowered raceme. Peduncle 20–25 mm long, c. 1.5 mm diam, green, densely pilose, with long white hairs. Rachis 4–6 mm long, c. 1 mm diam. Flowers c. 30 mm long, c. 25 mm deep, white to greenish white. Bracts 5–6 by 1 mm, linear, apex acute, base cuneate, margin entire, without gland, green, pilose, persistent. Pedicel 17 mm long, <1 mm diam, green, densely pilose with long white hairs. Lateral sepals 2, 15–18 by 8 mm, free, narrowly ovate, apex acute and mucronate, base obtuse, pale green, glabrous. Lower sepal 15–20 mm long, 10–15 mm deep, navicular, apex acuminate, white to pale green, glabrous, distal part gradually narrowing into an incurved spur, 25–30 mm long. Dorsal petal 18 by 6 mm, narrowly elliptic, slightly cucullate, apex acute and mucronate, base obtuse, pale green, glabrous, abaxial midvein with a narrow crest, c. 1 mm wide, green. Lateral united petals 22–28 mm long, free: the upper petals 12–13 by 6–7 mm, elliptic, apex acute, base cuneate, white; the lower petals 14–15 by 6 mm, free, elliptic to elliptic-obovate, apex acute, base with distinct auricles, 1.5–2 mm high, white with yellow auricles, glabrous. Stamens: filaments c. 7 mm long, white to pale green; anthers obtuse, pale yellow. Ovary c. 6 mm long, c. 1 mm diam, green, glabrous. Fruits 15 mm long, 5 mm diam, fusiform, green, glabrous; fruiting pedicel up to 16 mm long. Seeds unknown.

Phenology — Flowering: October to November; fruiting: October to February.

Distribution — Myanmar (Kachin State), only known from the type locality.

Ecology — Growing in an open mossy area of evergreen forest.

Other collection examined. MYANMAR, Kachin State, Saw­Lwin KSL1021

(L, MAND, RAF), Hkakabo Razi National Park , 17 Oct. 2015 .

Note — Impatiens putaoensis is similar to I. porrecta but has white to greenish white flowers and the upper lateral petals have an acute apex.