The Hindu (Thiruvananthapuram)
New garden balsam species emerges from chance finding
What makes Impatiens neo-uncinata special is that it has been reported only from a single locality at an elevation ranging from 1,000 to 1,250 m in the Agasthyamala biosphere
Asmall plant with attractive milkywhite flowers with red stripes discovered in the Western Ghats has now been identified as a rare, wild cousin of the popular garden balsam.
Researchers stumbled upon the herb during a floristic survey in the Agasthyamala biosphere reserve in Thiruvananthapuram district. They initially took it for Impatiens uncinata, a familiar species of the genus Impatiens, to which the garden balsams also belong.
Detailed study
But a closer look had prompted a detailed scientific study, which eventually resulted in the plant being labelled a new species of Impatiens (family
Balsaminaceae).
S. Arya, assistant professor, PG and Research Department of Botany, PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore, and V.S. Anil Kumar, Principal, Government College, Kasaragod, who were instrumental in its discovery and identification have named it Impatiens neo-uncinata.
A paper written by them in the scientific journal
Phytotaxa highlights the herb’s serendipitous discovery, its distinguishing characteristics and botanical importance. What makes Impatiens neo-uncinata special is that it has been reported only from a single locality at an elevation ranging from 1,000 to 1,250 m, and that too in a very few numbers.
The researchers had noticed the plant growing near streams and wetlands. “We initially took it for Impatiens unicinata, as there were morphological similarities. But the differences became evident when the plant was subjected to a closer examination,” Dr. Arya said.
“The new Impatiens population can be easily distinguished from the field by snowy white flowers with red stripes and larger flowers,” their paper in Phytotaxa said.
Size of flowers
While Impatiens neo-uncinata bears morphological resemblances to Impatiens uncinata, it differs from the latter in the size of the flowers, basal and distal lobes, the dorsal petal and pollen. Sizewise, Impatiens neo-uncinata is a herb that grows up to 20 cm in height, with simple or branched stems. It grows in open areas of evergreen forests, particularly wetlands. Flowering and fruiting occurs from August to December.