Impatiens simbiniensis Grey-Wilson

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb to 60 cm. tall; stem sparsely branched, glabrous, rooting at the lower nodes.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves spirally arranged; petiole (1–)2.8–12 cm. long, slender, with several 1–2 mm. long stipitate glands towards the top; lamina broadly-ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 5.5–14 cm. long, 3.8–7.2 cm. broad, the base slightly attenuate, the apex subacute, glabrous beneath but with a few short hairs on the midrib and lateral veins above; lateral veins 3–5 pairs; margin shallowly crenate, the teeth 5–10 mm. apart.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers solitary, axillary, epedunculate, pink.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts linear-lanceolate, 2–3 mm. long, inconspicuous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 7.8–14 cm. long, slender, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Lateral sepals 2, oblong, 10–11 mm. long, 4–5 mm. broad, apiculate. Lower sepal obliquely and shallowly navicular, 10–12 mm. long, abruptly constricted into a 42–48 cm. long curved filiform spur.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Dorsal petal obovate, 15–17 mm. long, 17–19 mm. broad, dorsally with a shallow crest. Lateral united petals 21–24 mm. long; upper petal of each pair narrowly-obovate, 14–22 mm. long, 8–15 mm. broad, somewhat asymmetrical, entire; lower petal of each pair transversely obovate, 15–20 mm. long, 8–15 mm. broad, distally drawn out into a 3–4 mm. long and broad, triangular, obtuse appendage.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit narrowly fusiform, ±17 mm. long, 3.5 mm. broad, glabrous.

Figures

Fig. 3/37, p. 6.

Habitat

In upland rain-forest; 1400–1500 m.

Distribution

T6 not known elsewhere