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

162

Botanical Studies, Vol. 49, 2008

Figure 1. Illustration of Impatiens fugongensis K. M. Liu & Y. Y. Cong (drawn by Li-Han Liu from the holotype). A, Habit; B, Basal

portion of abaxial leaf surface; C, Flower, lateral view; D, Flower, anterior view; E, Lateral sepals; F, Dorsal petal; G, Lateral united

petals; H, Lower sepal; I, Gynoecium; J, Androecium; K, Transverse section of fruit; L, Fruit; M, Seeds.

CONG et al. ¡X A new species of

Impatiens

from China

163

cornute, depth of lower sepal from pedicel to base of

spur 18-21 mm, sparsely pubescent outside, mouth ca.

4.5 mm wide, anterior acute, base gradually narrowed

into an incurved spur 15-18 mm. Dorsal petal galeiform,

orbicular, 5.8-6 ¡Ñ 4-4.2 mm, base broadly cuneate, apex

obtuse-rounded, abaxial midvein slightly thickened,

sparsely white hairy. Lateral united petals sessile, 12-14

mm long, 2-lobed, upper lobes narrowly elliptic, ca. 2

mm wide, apex obtuse-acute; lower lobes dolabriform-

triangular, 8-10 ¡Ñ 5-7 mm, apically retuse, abaxial auricle

absent. Stamens 5, ca. 2 mm long, filaments linear, free

for about 1/2 their length; anthers ovoid, joined into a ring

surrounding the ovary apex, apex obtuse. Ovary superior,

5-carpellate, placentation axile, fusiform, ca. 3 mm long,

erect, style 1. Capsule green, broadly fusiform, 5-angled,

ca. 10 ¡Ñ ca. 4 mm, apex acute, rostellate, 5-valved, fleshy;

seeds elliptic, 1.5-1.9 ¡Ñ 0.7-1.1 mm, yellow-brown.

Paratype. CHINA. Northwestern Yunnan Province:

Fugong County, Gaoligong Mountain, alt. 2,200 m, on

the damp cliff, 13 Oct 2006, Liu Ke-Ming & Cong Yi-Yan

791412 (HNNU).

Phenology. Flowering from August to October; fruiting

from September to November. Flower visitors (insects of

Hymenoptera) were seen in the field.

Ecology. On moist limestone rocks in wet evergreen

broad-leaved montane forests, at 2,100-2,500 m elevation.

Distribution. Fugong County, Northwestern Yunnan

Province, China; known only from the type locality.

DISCUSSION

Impatiens fugongensis K. M. Liu et Y. Y. Cong

resembles I. xanthina Comber in having leaves crowded

at the upper part of stem and branches, a galeiform

standard, and a broadly fusiform capsule. However, it

differs in having elliptic to suborbicular lamina with apex

obtuse-acute or obtuse-rounded, lateral veins (5-7 pairs),

caduceus bracts, a cornute lower sepal, outside hair,

narrowly elliptic upper lobes of lateral united petals with

no purple-tinged flecks at base, and dolabriform-triangular

lower lobes. I. fugongensis K. M. Liu et Y. Y. Cong is also

Table 1. Source of materials.

Species

Locality

Voucher

Impatiens fugongensis K. M. Liu et Y. Y. Cong Yunnan, China

K. M. Liu & Y. Y. Cong 791378 (HNNU)

Impatiens xanthina Comber

Yunnan, China

K. M. Liu & Y. Y. Cong 791366 (HNNU)

Impatiens monticola Hook. f.

Sichuan, China

K. M. Liu & Y. Y. Cong 791448 (HNNU)

Table 2. Comparison between Impatiens fugongensis, I. monticola, and I. xanthina.

Characters Impatiens fugongensis

Impatiens monticola

Impatiens xanthina

Plant height 5.5-9 cm

30-60 cm

6-20 cm

Lamina

Elliptic to suborbicular, 2.6-4 ¡Ñ

1.1-2.2 cm, apex obtuse-acute or

obtuse-rounded, lateral veins 5-7

pairs

Ovate-elliptic or obovate, 3-13

¡Ñ 3-4.5 cm, apex acuminate,

lateral veins 5-7 pairs

Lanceolate, elliptic-lanceolate, or

oblong-spatulate, 4.5-7 ¡Ñ 1.5-2

cm, apex acute or acuminate,

lateral veins 7-9 pairs

Bracts

Caducous

Persistent

Persistent

Inflorescences 2-3-flowered in a raceme

2-flowered in a raceme

1-2-flowered in a raceme

Flower length 14-17 mm

ca. 35 mm

20-25 mm

Lateral sepals Ovate-elliptic, 2.8-3.1 ¡Ñ 1.7-1.9 mm,

abaxially long white hairy

Ovate or orbicular, 6-10 ¡Ñ 6-8

mm, glabrous

Triangular-ovate, ca. 9 mm,

glabrous

Lower sepal Cornute, sparsely pubescent,

base gradually narrowed into an

incurved spur15-18 mm

Navicular, glabrous, base

gradually narrowed into an

incurved spur 23-36 mm

Narrowly infundibular, glabrous,

base gradually narrowed into an

involute spur 22-25 mm

Dorsal petal 5.8-6 mm long, not purple-tinged

flecks at base

13-15 mm long, not purple-tinged

flecks at base

6-17 mm long, purple-tinged

flecks at base

Lateral united

petals

12-14 mm long, upper lobes

narrowly elliptic, not purple-

tinged flecks at base; lower lobes

dolabriform-triangular

20-25 mm long, upper lobes

suborbicular, not purple-tinged

flecks at base; lower lobes

dolabriform

15-16 mm long, upper lobes

orbicular , purple-tinged flecks

at base; lower lobes dolabriform

or ovate-dolabriform

164

Botanical Studies, Vol. 49, 2008

similar to I. monticola Hook. f. by its lateral veins (5-7

pairs), 2-3 flowers in a raceme, dolabriform-triangular

lower lobes of lateral united petals, and a broadly fusiform

capsule, but differs in having stems 5.5-9 cm tall, elliptic

to suborbicular lamina, caduceus bracts, hairy flowers

14-17 cm long, ovate-elliptic lateral sepals, cornute lower

sepal, and narrowly elliptic upper lobes of lateral united

petals. More detailed morphological comparisons of these

three species are given in Table 2.

In addition, seedcoat micromorphological characters

also differentiate Impatiens fugongensis from I. xanthina

and I. monticola. In I. fugongensis, seeds are elliptic

(Figure 2A), and some of the epidermal cells of the

seedcoat protrude significantly to form squamalate

projections that are oblong and have conspicuous pits

(Figure 2B, C); while in I. xanthina, seeds are ovate

(Figure 2D), and some of the epidermal cells of the

seedcoat protrude significantly to form cristate protrusions

which are spirally thickened (Figure 2E, F). Seedcoat of I.

monticola is similar to that of I. fugongensis, but differs in

having elliptic, squamalate projections with margins rolled

inward (Figure 2G, H) and more pits on the squamalate,

which are sometimes connected with each other by

grooves (Figure 2I).

Acknowledgements. The study was supported by the

National Natural Science Foundation of China, Grant

Nos. 39899400 and 30470130, and a Key Knowledge

Figure 2. SEM micrographs of seedcoat of Impatiens fugongensis, I. xanthina, and I. monticola. A-C, I. fugongensis. A, Entire seed;

B, Detail seedcoat; C, Squamalate projections under high magnification. D-F, I. xanthina. D, Entire seed; E, Detail seedcoat; F, Cristate

projections under high magnification. G-I, I. monticola. G, Entire seed; H, Detail seedcoat; I, Squamalate projections under high

magnification.

CONG et al. ¡X A new species of

Impatiens

from China

165

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Innovation Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences,

Grant No. KSCX-SW-122, and the Ministry of Science

and Technology of China, Grant No. 2005DKA21006.

We are grateful to Mr. Hui-jun Guo, vice director of

Yunnan Forestry Department, for his kind help during the

fieldwork, and to Prof. Chun-lin Long, Dr. Zhi-ling Dao,

and Dr. Guang-wan Hu, Kunming Institute of Botany, the

Chinese Academy of Sciences, for their help and support

during our visit to KUN. We also thank Prof. Lin-han Liu

for the excellent illustration.

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