Table 1 Comparison among Impatiens pandurata, I. apalophylla, I. clavigera and I. spathulata

Plant

Glabrous

Glabrous

Glabrous

Puberulous

Shape of leaf

Oblanceolate

Ovate to oblanceolate

Obovate to oblanceolate

Obovate

Size of leaf

5–7 cm × 1–1.5 mm

10–22 cm × 4–8 cm

5–15 cm × 3–5 cm

6–11 cm × 2.5–3.5 cm

Inflorescence

3–5-flowered

4–10-flowered

5–9-flowered

2–4-flowered

Floral color

Yellow

Yellow with reddish patches

Yellow

Pink

Outer lateral sepals

Oblique, ovate-orbiculate, aequilateral, apex acuminate

Oblique ovate, apex acuminate

Oblique ovate, apex acuminate

Oblique ovate to ovate, apex acuminate

Inner lateral sepals

Linear

Lanceolate

Linear-lanceolate

Linear-lanceolate

Lower sepal

Absent patch

With redish patches

Absent patch

Absent patch

Spur

Long, 1–1.5 cm

Long, 1.5–2 cm

Short, 5–6 mm

Long, 1.5–1.8 cm

Lower lobe of united petals

8–12 mm long, elliptic

1–1.5 cm long, oblong

1–1.2 cm long, oblong

1–1.2 cm long, oblong

Upper lobe of united petal

2–2.5 cm long, oblong, yellow, with slightly reddish patches

2.5–2.7 cm long, oblong, yellow, with apparent reddish patches

2.5–2.6 cm long, oblong, yellowish-green, absent patch

2.3–2.5 cm long, oblong, pink, absent patch

Dorsal petal

Suborbicular

Elliptic

Obovate

Elliptic to ovate