Botanical Studies (2008) 49: 161-165.
*
Corresponding author: E-mail: lkming8@yahoo.com.cn;
Tel: 86-731-887-2864.
TAXONOMY
Impatiens fugongensis (Balsaminaceae), a new species
from Yunnan, China
Yi-Yan CONG, Ke-Ming LIU*, Xiu-Zhen CAI, and Shu-Zhen TIAN
Department of Botany, College of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410081, Hunan, P. R. China
(Received June 25, 2007; Accepted November 7, 2007)
ABSTRACT.
A new species of Impatiens L., I. fugongensis K. M. Liu et Y. Y. Cong, sp. nov., is
described and illustrated. The species is restricted to the wet evergreen broad-leaved montane forests of
Gaoligong Mountain in Northwestern Yunnan, China. Diagnostic morphological characters and seedcoat
micromorphological characters that distinguish the new species from the related species, I. xanthina Comber
and I. monticola Hook. f., are discussed.
Keywords: Balsaminaceae; China; Impatiens; Impatiens fugongensis; Micromorphology; New species;
Seedcoat; Yunnan.
INTRODUCTION
The genus Impatiens L. (Balsaminaceae), including
about 900 species worldwide (Yuan et al., 2004), mainly
occurs in mountains of tropical and subtropical regions
from India to southeastern Asia. Most of the species have
very restricted distributions (Fischer and Rahelivololona,
2002). About 240 species have been reported from China
(Chen, 2001; Jin and Ding, 2002; Huang et al., 2003), and
most of them occur in southwestern China.
Since 1999 we have studied the taxonomy and
pollination ecology of Impatiens (Liu, 1999; Tian et al.,
2004). During a recent scientific survey of Gaoligong
Mountain National Nature Reserve, northwestern Yunnan,
an apparently new species of Impatiens was discovered by
the authors. After carefully studying the morphology and
seedcoat micromorphology of the species and the related
species, and consulting the literature (Xiong and Luo,
1988; Chen, 2001; Huang, 2006), we concluded that these
plants represent a new species.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Seeds used for observations were collected in the field
during the autumns of 2005 and 2006. Voucher specimens
were deposited in the Herbarium of Hunan Normal
University (HNNU; Table 1). For scanning electron
microscopy, dried mature seeds were mounted on stubs,
using double-sided adhesive tape, and coated with about 2
nm of gold with a JFC-1600 sputter coater. Coated seeds
were then examined and photographed with the JEOL
JSM-6360LV scanning electron microscope.
SPECIES DESCRIPTION
Impatiens fugongensis K. M. Liu et Y. Y. Cong, sp.
nov.¡XTYPE: CHINA. Northwestern Yunnan Province:
Fugong County, Gaoligong Mountain, alt. 2,200 m, on
the damp cliff, 12 Oct 2006, Liu Ke-Ming & Cong Yi-
Yan 791378 (holotype: HNNU; isotypes KUN, HNNU).
Figure 1
Species haec I. xanthinae Comber similis, sed foliis
ellipticis vel suborbicularibus, apice obtuso-acutis vel
obtuso-rotundatis, nervis lateralibus 5-7-jugis, bracteis
caducis, sepalis inferioribus cornutis, pubescentibus,
lobis superioribus petalorum lateralium longe ellipticis
facile differt. A I. monticola Hook. f. caulibus 5.5-9
cm altis, foliis ellipticis vel suborbicularibus, bracteis
caducis, floribus 14-17 mm longis, pubescentibus, sepalis
inferioribus cornutis, lobis superioribus petalorum
lateralium longe elliptiscis diversa.
Annual herb, 5.5-9 cm tall. Stem erect, often purple-
red, base slightly prostrate, densely white hairy (brown
when dry), 1-3 branched from base, simple above. Leaves
alternate, crowded at upper part, petiolate; petiole 6-10
mm, densely white hairy; lamina elliptic to suborbicular,
2.6-4 ¡Ñ 1.1-2.2 cm, adaxially white hairy, abaxially along
veins white hairy, lateral veins 5-7 pairs, base broadly
cuneate, with 2 or 3 pairs of glandular hairs, margin
coarsely crenate-denticulate, setose in between marginal
teeth, apex obtuse-acute or obtuse-rounded. Inflorescences
in upper leaf axils, racemose, 2-3-flowered; peduncles
erect, 15-20 mm, densely white hairy. Pedicels 7-10 mm,
densely white hairy, bracteate at base; bracts lanceolate,
caduceus, abaxially white hairy. Flower golden-yellow,
smaller, 14-17 mm long. Lateral sepals 2, green, ovate-
elliptic, 2.8-3.1 ¡Ñ 1.7-1.9 mm, 3-veined, apex shortly
acuminate, abaxially long white hairy. Lower sepal