Impatiens pandurata Y. H. Tan & S. X. Yu, sp. nov.
This species is similar to I. apalophylla and I. clavigera in having racemose inflorescences, 4 lateral sepals, hammer-shaped capsules and ellipsoid seeds, but differs in having leaves with oblanceolate blades aggregated at the top of the stem, 3–5-flowered racemes, a yellow lower sepal without reddish patches, yellowish flowers, and a dorsal petal with stalks at the base.
Type: CHINA. Yunnan, Malipo County, Tianbao, Bajiaoping, limestone forests, elev. 1250 m, 22°57′44″ N, 104°51′45″ E, 30 Oct 2012, Yun-Hong Tan
5728 (holotype: HITBC; isotype: PE). Paratype: China. Yunnan: Malipo County, Tianbao Town, elev. 1200 m, 23° 01′02.47″ N, 104°49′34.19″ E, 20 Nov 2014, Xin–Xin Zhu 0001 (CSH)
Figs. 1, 2.
Herb perennial, 20–30 cm tall, glabrous. Stems fleshy, erect, simple or branched; inferior nodes unapparent. Leaves alternate, aggregated at stem apex, blades oblanceolate to linear oblanceolate, 5–7 cm long, 1–1.5 cm wide, apex acuminate, base cuneate, deep green above, pale green beneath, sometime with grey patches, margin deeply crenate, with spinose teeth. Veins unapparent. Petioles 0.8–1.2 cm. Racemes solitary in the upper axils, 5–7 cm long, 2–3 (−5)-flowered. Pedicels thin, 15–20 mm long. Bracts ovate to lanceolate, 7–9 mm long, acute. Flowers yellowish or cream. Lateral sepals 4, the outer 2 large, ovate to lanceolate, inaequilateral, 2–3 veined, yellowish-green, base rounded, apex acuminate to caudate, 7.8–9.1 × 3.3–3.7 mm; the inner 2 small, 10.7–11.4 × 1.2–1.6 mm, inaequilateral, apex acuminate. Lower sepal 2.5–3.0 cm long excluding spur, saccate, spur 5–5.6 mm. Dorsal petal 12.5–13.5 mm long, 11.6–12.3 mm wide, orbicular, apex rounded, base broadly cuneate and abruptly constricted into a stalk, midrib obvious, with a slight dorsal crest. Lateral united petals 2.1–2.4 cm long, the lower lobes 11.5–12.5 mm long, 5–5.5 mm wide, oblong, the upper ones 21–24 mm long, 4.5–5.5 wide, elliptic, apex emarginate, middle of inner margin without appendage. Stamens 5, filaments linear, 2–3 mm long, anthers obtuse. Ovary clavate, superior part inflated. Capsule hammer-shaped, seed ellipsoid.
Phenology Flowering and fruiting from September to December.
Ecology This new species grows under evergreen broad leaf forest; 1000–1200 m.
Distribution
Impatiens pandurata is known from Jinping County and Malipo County, Yunnan, China.
Etymology The specific epithet ‘pandurata’ refers to the leaf shape of the new species.