Impatiens pallide-rosea Gilg

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb, often forming patches; stems decumbent to erect, rather thin, to 40–50 cm. long, laxly branched, glabrous or sparsely pubescent at the shoot apices.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves spirally arranged, rarely subopposite or opposite on the same stem; petiole 0.7–3.5 cm. long, slender, glabrous; lamina ovate to oblong-lanceolate or occasionally oblanceolate, 1.4–9.5 cm. long, 1.2–5 cm. broad, the apex acute or shortly acuminate, the base somewhat attenuate, glabrous or slightly pubescent above and below; margin serrulate with a few ± 1–2 mm. long fimbriae towards the base of the lamina; lateral veings 4–8 pairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers solitary or 2 together at the leaf-axils, epedunculate, pale to deep pink or mauve, the upper petal of each lateral united pair with a reddish brown blotch towards the base, the lower sepal with distinct purplish or pink veining.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts linear-lanceolate to subulate, 4–6 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 2–3.5 cm. long, slender, glabrous or with a few scattered hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Lateral sepals narrowly ovate to linear-lanceolate, 3–5 mm. long, shortly acuminate, glabrous. Lower sepal shallowly navicular, 7–10 mm. long, 4–6 mm. deep, abruptly constricted into a 17–22 mm. long curved filiform spur, glabrous or sparsely pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Dorsal petal 8–15 mm. long, 10–20 mm. broad, slightly concave, apically bilobed, dorsally with a shallow crest terminating in a short acute point. Lateral united petals 16–28 mm. long, the upper petal ± one-third the size of the lower; upper petal oblong to oblong-ovate, 8–9 mm. long, 5–7 mm. broad, shortly apiculate; lower petal broadly and obliquely ovate, 10–20 mm. long, 6–13 mm. broad, with a slight emargination along the inner edge towards the top.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit narrowly fusiform, 13 mm. long, 2.5 mm. broad, glabrous.