Impatiens godfreyi (Balsaminaceae), a new species of Balsam from the southern Western Ghats, India

Abstract

Impatiens godfreyi, a new species from mid-elevation evergreen forests of KMTR, southern Western Ghats, is described and illustrated. The new species is similar to I. disotis Hook.f. and mainly differs in having perennial branched woody subshrub up to 200 cm high, ovate-elliptic leaves, 2–3-flowered umbel inflorescence, orbicular standard petals with large scarlet-red speckled inside, overlapping lateral corolla lobes with mucronate apex, single lobed distal corolla lobe with a rounded apex and obconical lip with a tubular incurved spur. The morphological characters, distribution, phenology, conservation status, photographs, and taxonomical key for the section subumbellatae are provided for easy identification.

Keywords

• Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve
• Endemic
• Impatiens
• New species
• Tamil Nadu
• Taxonomy