Impatiens pseudozombensis Grey-Wilson

Balsaminaceae, C. Grey-Wilson. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1993

Morphology General Habit

Low perennial herb with rather thin decumbent stems to 70 cm. tall, though generally less; stems moderately branched, rooting at the lower nodes, finely pubescent when young but soon becoming glabrescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves spirally arranged; petiole 0.5–3 cm. long, slender; lamina ovate to lanceolate-elliptic or lanceolate, 2.7–5.6(–7) cm. long, 1.3–3(–4) cm. broad, the base somewhat attenuate into the petiole, the apex acuminate, finely pubescent above and beneath; lateral veins 5–8 pairs; margin finely serrate to serrate-dentate, with several ± 1 mm. long fimbriae towards the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers epedunculate, solitary or occasionally paired, magenta-pink to mauvish or purplish, generally with a white spot on either side towards the base of the lateral united petals, the sepals whitish.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts subulate, ± 2 mm. long, inconspicuous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 2.4–3.6 cm. long, slender, sparsely pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Lateral sepals linear-lanceolate, 4–6 mm. long, pubescent. Lower sepal shallowly and obliquely navicular, 8–10 mm. long, 3–4 mm. deep, abruptly constricted into a 19–27 mm. long curved filiform spur, sparsely pubescent overall, or the spur glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Dorsal petal broadly obovate or semiorbicular, 7–9 mm. long, 10–12 mm. broad, emarginate, dorsally with a shallow crest terminating in a short acute point, pubescent towards the base and along the crest. Lateral united petals 10–12 mm. long; upper petal of each pair oblong, 9–10 mm. long, 5–7 mm. broad; lower petal of each pair transversely semi-elliptic, 7.5–8 mm. long, 4.5–7.5 mm. broad.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit narrowly fusiform, 13–15 mm. long, 2–2.5 mm. broad, glabrous.

Figures

Fig. 2/28, p. 4.

Habitat

Along upland rain-forest fringes, banks, along river and stream margins, occasionally on marshy ground; 1800–2100 m.

Distribution

T7 not known elsewhere