Bull. Natl. Mus. Nat. Sci., Ser. B, 41(4), pp. 161–178, November 20, 2015

Studies of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) of Nepal 2.
Impatiens jurpia, I. urticifolia, and Allied Species
Shinobu Akiyama1,* and Hideaki Ohba2
1

Department of Botany, National Museum of Nature and Science,
Amakubo 4–1–1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305–0005, Japan2
Department of Botany, the University Museum, the University of Tokyo,
Hongo 7–3–1, Tokyo 113–0033, Japan*E-mail: akiyama@kahaku.go.jp(Received 17 August 2015; accepted 24 September 2015)

Abstract Impatiens jurpia Buch.-Ham. ex Hook.f. & Thomson, I. discolor DC., I. urticifolia
Wall., I. gamblei Hook.f., I. hobsonii Hook.f., and I. wallichii Hook.f. are taxonomically revised
and new section names, sect. Jurpia S.Akiyama & H.Ohba (I. jurpia and I. discolor) and sect.
Urticifoliae S.Akiyama & H.Ohba (I. urticifolia, I. gamblei, I. hobsonii, and I. wallichii) are proposed. Impatiens kathmanduensis Grey-Wilson reported from Nepal is conspeciﬁc with I. discolor.
Key words : Flora of Nepal, Himalaya, Impatiens, Nepal, new section.

Hooker (1874–75) placed Impatiens jurpia in
Series BIII Axilliﬂorae based on the following
characters: ʻLeaves all alternate. Flowers in axillary 2–4-ﬂowered peduncles, not umbelled or
racemed.ʼ Within this series he included I. discolor, I. spirifer, I. porrecta, I. scabrida, I. tropaeolifolia, I. laevigata, I. cathcartii, I. serrata,
I. longipes, I. urticifolia, and I. cymbifera
together with I. jurpia. Later, Hooker (1905)
modiﬁed the system and recognized assemblagesʻI §6, 8, and 9ʼ in Series B for the species ofSeries BIII Axilliﬂorae. Assemblages ʻI §6 and 8ʼ
do not ﬁt the characters of Series BIII Axilliﬂorae,but ʻI §9ʼ ﬁts. In ʻI §6ʼ Hooker included I.
prainii, I. nummularifolia, I. scitula, I. gamblei,
I. wallichii, and I. hobsonii of the eastern Himalaya from the Kathmandu Valley to Upper Assam(Mishmi Hills) and the Chumbi Valley together
with the several species cited above. Amongthem, I. jurpia, I. cymbifera, I. discolor, I. urticifolia, I. gamblei, I. wallichii, and I. hobsonii arereported to occur in Nepal (Hara, 1979). We treat
these 6 species, except I. cymbifera, in this paper,
because of differences in the inﬂorescence, as

mentioned below.
1) Diversity of inﬂorescence types and chromosome numbers in the assemblage
As pointed out by Hooker (1905), the inﬂorescence is diverse in Himalayan Impatiens, but
Hookerʼs descriptions of the inﬂorescences isambiguous. We studied the inﬂorescences to clarify their architecture and, as a result, recognize 9
types, mainly based on differences in the positionof the bracts, the length and direction of thepeduncles, rachise, and pedicels, and the numberof ﬂowers (Akiyama and Ohba, 2000). The species of Hookerʼs assemblage ʻI §6ʼ in Series B in
Nepal, except for I. cymbifera, have type 2 (a andb) inﬂorescences, as deﬁned by Akiyama andOhba (2000). In Impatiens, the phylogenetic tree
supports the evolutionary trends in inﬂorescencemorphology, as well as the basic chromosome
number (Fujihashi et al., 2002).
Impatiens discolor was grouped in subclade
B3 of clade B by Fujihashi et al. (2002), and I.
urticifolia and I. wallichii in subclade A1 ofclade A with species of inﬂorescence types 1 (a162Shinobu Akiyama and Hideaki Ohba

and b), 3, and 6. For the species of Hookerʼs
assemblage ʻI §6ʼ in Series B in Nepal, except
for I. cymbifera, with inﬂorescence type 2, twogroups are recognized. One group contains only
I. discolor with 2n＝20 chromosomes: the othergroup contains I. urticifolia and I. wallichii with
2n＝18 chromosomes. Impatiens cymbifera,grouped in clade A and located between subclades A1 and A2, has type 1a inﬂorescence.
Impatiens urticifolia and I. wallichii, bothbelonging to clade A1, have inﬂorescence type 2(a and b). Inﬂorescence type 1a is easily distinguished from inﬂorescence type 2. In Nepal there
are several species of inﬂorescence type 1a. We
believe that I. cymbifera should be treated withother species of inﬂorescence type 1a in clade A.
2) Taxonomic status of Impatiens kathmanduensis Grey-Wilson
Impatiens kathmanduensis (Grey-Wilson, 1989)
has inﬂorescence type 2b, a bucciniform lower
sepal (Fig. 1), and a dorsal petal with a crest-likeappendage. Grey-Wilson (1989) distinguished I.
kathmanduensis from I. jurpia by the presence ofsuperﬂuous bracts below the lowest ﬂower of theinﬂorescence, a short peduncle and a short
appendage on the dorsal petal, but he did not
directly compare I. kathmanduensis with themost closely related species, I. discolor, owing to
the color difference of their ﬂowers. Grey-Wilson (1989) reported the ﬂowers of I. jurpia andits allies to be basically pale yellow or white andthose of I. discolor basically mauve or purple. In
the protologue the ﬂowers of I. discolor aredescribed as yellow [ﬂores ﬂavi] (de Candolle,1824). We also observed the ﬂowers of I. discolor in Nepal to be nearly pure white, sometimes shaded pink, and the lower sepal white,
pale yellow or pale pink (Akiyama et al., 1991).
Impatiens discolor has the lower sepal withabrupt constriction and a conspicuously incurved
spur (Akiyama et al., 1991). We observed specimens with the spur intermediate between I. discolor (Fig. 2c) and I. kathmanduensis (Fig. 2b).
Impatiens discolor also has superﬂuous bracts
below the lowest ﬂower of the inﬂorescence, ashort peduncle and a short appendage on the dorsal petal. The type specimen of I. discolor in G
has the apex of the spur of the lower sepal conspicuously incurved (Fig. 3).
We treat I. kathmanduensis as conspeciﬁc with
I. discolor. Hookerʼs sketch of the ﬂower
together with a photocopy of the type of I. discolor and the corresponding letters of Hooker
and de Candolle are on a herbarium sheet in K.
Hookerʼs sketch of the lower sepal of the ﬂower(Fig. 4) is most valuable in deﬁning I. discolor.
3) Resemblance among the species
Impatiens jurpia (Figs. 5, 6) and I. discolor(including I. kathmanduensis) are similar in having a racemose inﬂorescence and a crest-likeappendage on the dorsal petal, but they are distinguished by the shape of the spur of the lower
sepal. Impatiens jurpia has a slightly incurved
spur (Fig. 2a); the spur of I. discolor is conspicuously incurved overall or at the apex (Figs. 2b &c, 4).
Although no molecular or chromosomal evidence is available for I. gamblei and I. hobsonii,
those two species have a similar dorsal petal
without a crest-like appendage, as in I. urticifolia
and I. wallichii. Hooker (1905) distinguishedthese four species by the shape of the lower lobeof the lateral united petals, i.e. dolabriform (I.
wallichii and I. hobsonii) or loriform (I. urticifolia and I. gamblei). Impatiens hobsonii (Fig. 7)
and I. gamblei (Fig. 8) are extremely difﬁcult todistinguish on herbarium specimens, because theshape and size of the lower lobe of the lateral
united petals is almost impossible to determine
owing to the poor condition of the specimens.
Grey-Wilson (1991) treated those two species assynonyms of I. kingii, which is in Bhutan andSikkim. The shape of the lower sepal with spurof I. hobsonii (Fig. 9b) is similar to that of I.
gamblei (Fig. 9d). As pointed out by Hooker(1905), the shape of the lower lobe of the lateral
united petals of I. wallichii is dolabriform (Fig.
10d) while that of I. urticifolia (Akiyama et al.,1991) and I. gamblei is loriform (Fig. 10j, q).
Although we have no material of I. hobsonii toStudies of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) of Nepal 2

Fig. 1.

Holotype of Impatiens kathmanduensis Grey-Wilson (Schilling 1071, K).

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Shinobu Akiyama and Hideaki Ohba

Fig. 2. Lower sepals of Impatiens (1). a: I. jurpia (Brühl in 1903, E). b: I. discolor (I. kathmanduensis) (Taylor
10 in Grey Wilson 4695, E). c: I. discolor (Ohba et al. 8520262) (Akiyama et al., 1991). Bar indicates 10 mm.

examine the lateral united petals, at present wefollow Hooker (1905) and treat I. hobsonii and I.
gamblei as distinct species because of the differences in the shape of the lower lobe of the lateral
united petals. To determine the stability and variation in ﬂoral features, further specimens of goodquality collected at numerous localities areneeded.
Impatiens wallichii is characterized by the
S-shaped spur of the lower sepal and lack of anelongate tip at the oblique mouth (Figs. 9a, 10a–f, 11). Impatiens urticifolia is characterized by
the lower sepal with an elongate tip at the vertical mouth and a forwardly incurved spur (Figs.
9c, 12).
4) Infrageneric treatment
We concluded that the Nepalese species in thisassemblage (i.e. I. jurpia, I. discolor, I. urticifolia, I. gamblei, I. wallichii, and I. hobsonii),
except I. cymbifera, constitute two natural groups
distinguished from sect. Axilliﬂorae, which wename here sect. Jurpia (nov.), including I. jurpia
and I. discolor, and sect. Urticifoliae (nov.),
including I. urticifolia, I. gamblei, I. wallichii,and I. hobsonii. As pointed out in the introduc-tion, Hookerʼs assemblages ʻI §6 and 8ʼ do notﬁt the characters of Series BIII Axilliﬂorae.
[Systematic treatment]
Impatiens L. sect. Jurpia S.Akiyama & H.
Ohba, sect. nov.
Type: I. jurpia Buch. Ham. ex Hook.f. &Thomson
Impatiens sect. Brachycentron Warb. subsect.
Epiphyticae Warb. & Reiche in Engl. & Prantl,
Pﬂanzenfam., 3, 5: 391 (1895), pro parte.
Impatiens sect. Axilliﬂorae (in Series B) Hook.
f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 1: 471 (1874), pro parte.
Impatiens sect. Scorpioid-cyma S.X.Yu, Balsaminaceae China: 66 (2012), nom. nud., versim.
pro parte.
Inﬂorescences pendulous, racemose, with few
to many ﬂowers [Type 2a and 2b (Akiyama andOhba, 2000)]. Leaves alternate. Flowers yellow
or whitish with reddish to yellowish spur; lower
sepal bucciniform; dorsal petal with crest-likeappendage.
Distr. E Himalaya.
Species: I. discolor DC. and I. jurpia Buch.Ham. ex Hook.f. & Thomson (type).

Key to the species of sect. Jurpia in Nepal
1a. Spur of lower sepal slightly incurved overall; crest-like appendage of dorsal petal (4–)6–16 mm
long...................................................................................................................................... 1. I. jurpia
1b. Spur of lower sepal conspicuously incurved at apex or overall; crest-like appendage of dorsal
petal 3–6 mm long ............................................................................................................ 2. I. discolor

Studies of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) of Nepal 2

Fig. 3.

Holotype of Impatiens discolor DC. (Wallich s.n., G00218031).

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Shinobu Akiyama and Hideaki Ohba

Fig. 4. Hookerʼs sketch of the lower sepal of theﬂower of the type of Impatiens discolor DC.

1. Impatiens jurpia Buch.-Ham. in Wall. [Cat.
168, n. 4761 (1831), nom. nud.] ex Hook.f. &Thomson in J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 4: 140 (1860). Type:
Nepal. Morang Hills (Hamilton, 14 July 1810, in
Wallich Herb. no. 4761[A], K-W[K001039839],
lectotype selected by Grey-Wilson in 1989).
[Figs. 2a, 5, 6]
Herbs, perennial, erect, more than 30 cm tall,
pubescent, glabrescent. Leaves alternate, petiolate; petiole 0.5–4.5(–5.5) cm long; blade herbaceous, elliptic to elliptic-ovate, 7.5–19.2 cm×3–
6.2 cm, base attenuate, margins shallowly
crenate, apex acuminate, both surfaces scabrid onveins or rarely nearly glabrous. Inﬂorescences
racemose, 3.5–10.5 cm long, axillary, not aggregated on apical part of stem, with 2–7 ﬂowers,
sometimes with 1–4 bracts below lowest ﬂower.
Peduncle 2.5–6.5 cm long, pubescent. Pedicels
10–25 mm long, glabrous, with a bract at base.
Flowers yellow, 2.8–3.5 cm long, 3.5–4.6 cm
deep. Lateral sepals 2, ovate, ca. 5 mm long.
Lower sepal bucciniform, 15–21 mm long,
13–18 mm deep (excluding spur), constricted into
spur; spur slightly incurved, 8–15 mm long, apex
sometimes slightly swollen and biﬁd. Dorsal
petal ca. 12 mm long, ca. 13 mm wide when ﬂat-

tened, apex slightly retuse, base rounded, slightly
cucullate, with crest-like appendage (4–)6–
16 mm long. Lateral united petals ca. 27 mm
long; upper lobe widely oblong, ca. 18 mm long,ca. 11 mm wide, apex slightly retuse, midvein
extending to apex; lower lobe oblique-ovate, ca.
18 mm long, ca. 8 mm wide, apex rounded, midvein extending to inner margin. Anthers withappendage or without(?).
Specimens examined: (Wallich 4761D, BM).
Silhet? (Wallich 4761B, K-W, K001039841).
Nepal. E Nepal. Sanguri Bhanjang–Dhara Pani
(Hara et al. 6300490, TI). S Nepal. S of Hatora,c. 700 m (Grey-Wilson & Philllips 67A, K). Sikkim. (Thomson s.n. in 1857, E). Regio temp,
5–7000 ped. (Hooker s.n., A, BM). Balaum Valley, 6000 ft. (C.N. 653 in 26 Aug. 1874, E). Darjeeling (Grifﬁth 1229, K). Darjeeling, 6000 ft.
(Unknown coll. in 17 Dec. 1937, GH, NA, NY).
Darjeeling, Batasi, 2100 m (Kanai, Ohba et al.
723209, A, TI). Batasi–Mani Bhanjyang, 2000 m(Kanai, Ohba et al. 721576, TI). Birch Hill (Hara6306727, TI); (Hara & Togashi 2991, TI). East
Birch Hill (Ohashi et al. 723207, TI). Darjeeling–Tista, 400–2300 m (Ohashi, Ohba et al.
723208, TI). Darjeeling, Takda, 1750 m (Ohashi,
Ohba et al. 775739, TI). East of Kalimpong,
3000 ft. (Burkill 32264, K). Kursemg & neighborhood (Brühl in 1903, E). Mongpo, 5500 ft.
(Clarke 36302A, BM; 36304, NA). Parhetung,
6000 ft. (Dr. Prainʼs Collector 86 7, BM). Rongli
Valley, 3000 ft. (Ludlow & Sherriff 10001, E).
Shinghik–Gangtok, 1500–1900 m (Hara et al.
69869, TI). Assam. (Grifﬁth in 1850, NY). Khasi
Hills (ex Herb. Sulp. Kurz, E). Mont. Khasia.
Regio temp., 5–6000 ped. (Hooker & Thomson
s.n., BM, E, NY). Shillong, 6000 ft. (Clarke
44593J, BM). Bhutan. Sarbhang-Chirang road,
19 km above Sarbhang 26°57′ 90°14′, ca. 1100 m(Grierson & Long 1551, E). Sinchu La, 6000 ft.
(Cooper 4966, E). E Himalaya. (Grifﬁth 1229,
GH). 4000 ft. (Cave, 2 June 1919, A, E). Munsong (Cave, 26 June 1919, A, E). Chungthang–Singhik, 5500 ft. (Biswas 6977, A).
Specimens collected in Darjeeling have acrest-like appendage 10–16 mm long, but in otherStudies of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) of Nepal 2

167

Fig. 5. Lectotype of Impatiens jurpia Buch.-Ham. ex Hook.f. (Hamilton, 14 July 1810, in Wallich Herb. no.
4761[A], K-W[K001039839]).

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Shinobu Akiyama and Hideaki Ohba

Fig. 6. Impatiens jurpia (Hara et al. 6300490). a: Flower. b & c: Dorsal petal. d: Lateral united petals. e: Lower
sepal. f: Lateral sepal. g: Stamens. Bar indicates 10 mm.

regions it is only 4–9 mm long. Grey-Wilson(1989) distinguished I. kathmanduensis from I.
jurpia by the presence of superﬂuous bracts
below the ﬂowers in the inﬂorescence, the shortpeduncle and the short appendage on the dorsal
petal, but some specimens of I. jurpia also havesuperﬂuous bracts below the ﬂowers and a short
appendage on the dorsal petal (4–5 mm). He(Grey-Wilson, 1989) also mentioned the slightly
biﬁd apex of the lower sepal in I. kathmanduensis, but I. jurpia sometimes also has such a lower
sepal (Fig. 6e). The shape of the spur of thelower sepal is one of the signiﬁcant characters to
distinguish these two species.
Hooker (1905) reported I. jurpia to have muticose anthers (i.e. without appendages), but weobserved anthers with appendages in the specimens Hara et al. 6300490 (TI) and Kanai et al.
721576 (TI) and in an illustration at Kew.
2. Impatiens discolor DC., Prodr. 1: 687 (1824).
Akiyama et al., Himalayan Pl. 2: 81 (1991).
Type: Nepal [Napaulia]. (Wallich s.n.,G00218031, holotype).
[Figs. 2b, c, 3, 4]
I. kathmanduensis Grey-Wilson in Kew Bull.
44: 119 (1989), syn. nov. Type: Nepal. Phulchoke, S. of Kathmandu, alt. 8700 ft. (Schilling
1071, K, holotype) (Fig. 1).

I. spirifer auct. non Hook.f. & Thomson: Hara
in Fl. E. Himalaya: 197 (1966).
Herbs perennial, erect, 15–35(–60) cm tall,
pubescent, glabrescent. Leaves alternate, petiolate; petiole (3–)5–35 mm long; blade herbaceous, elliptic to elliptic-ovate, or ovate,
4–12 cm×2–6.5 cm, base attenuate, margins
shallowly crenate, apex acuminate, both surfaces
scabrid on veins or nearly glabrous on lower surface. Inﬂorescences racemose, 1.5–5.8 cm long,axillary, not aggregated on apical part of stem,with (1 or)2–5 ﬂowers, sometimes with 1–4
bracts below the lowest ﬂower. Peduncle
8–12 mm long, glabrous. Pedicels 10–19 mm
long, glabrous with a bract at base. Flowers
white or pink with reddish veins; 2.3–2.5 cm
long, 3–4 cm deep. Lateral sepals 4, inner ones
minute; or 2, widely ovate to ovate, 6–12 mm
long. Lower sepal bucciniform, 15–20 mm long,
16–25 mm deep (excluding spur), abruptly constricted into spur; spur conspicuously incurved atapex or overall, 10–15 mm long in overall length,
apex sometimes slightly swollen and biﬁd. Dorsal petal cucullate, 13–16 mm long, 14–18 mm
wide when ﬂattened, apex rounded, baserounded, with crest-like appendage 3–6 mm. Lateral united petals 28–34 mm long; upper lobe
widely oblong, 14–17 mm long, 8–10 mm wide,
apex emarginate; lower lobe oblique, narrowly

Studies of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) of Nepal 2

Fig. 7.

Impatiens hobsonii Hook.f. (Stainton 828, BM, cited in Hara, 1979).

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Fig. 8.

Shinobu Akiyama and Hideaki Ohba

Lectotype of Impatiens gamblei Hook.f. (Gamble 8423, K000694669).

Studies of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) of Nepal 2

obovate to oblanceolate with an appendage at
inner basal part, 17–23 mm long, 8–15 mm wide,
apex rounded (sometimes slightly emarginate).
Anthers with appendage. Fruit clavate ca. 2 cm.
Additional specimens examined (addition to
Akiyama et al., 1991): Nepal. (Wallich s.n. BM);
(Wallich 4766, BM, GH); (Wallich 4767, K-W,
[K001039856]). Bagward (Malla 4959, NA).
Botebus–Fururu, 1800–2050 m (Ohashi, Ohba et
al. 773305, 774502, 771647, TI). Between
Chauki and Tinjure, 27°10′ 87°26′, 2720 m(KEKE 1243, E). Between Dobato and Pativanjyang, c. 2400 m (Grey-Wilson & Phillips 214,K). Gangia La–Palchock Danda, 7000 ft. (Polunin 1950, BM). 2 miles E. of Gorepani, c.
2200 m (Grey-Wilson & Phillips 321, K, det. I.
kathmanduensis by Grey-Wilson). E. of Gorepani (Grey-Wilson & Phillips 878, K, det. I.
kathmanduensis by Grey-Wilson). N. (and S.) of
Gulu-Bhanjyang, 27°55′ 85°30′, 2300–2500 m(de Haas 2840, BM). Gosainkund, Duche
Gyang–Thodang Danda, 2450 m (Malla & Kanai
674619, TI). Kathmandu Valley, Phulchoke,
7250 ft. (Schilling 641, TI). Phulchoki, 2300–
2700 m (Ohashi et al. 771446, TI). Phulchoki,
Lay-Lay Cape, 6000 ft. (Unknown coll. 7154,
BM). Kathmandu, Sheopuri (Chuma 7009224,
TI); 6500 ft. (Stainton, Sykes & Williams 6936,
BM). Mangalbare (Hara et al. 6300497, TI).
Manglabare, 27°15′ 87°29′, 2650 m (Dobremez
1553, BM). Milke Danda, 9000 ft. (Beer 25740,
BM). Khare, E. of Lumle, NW of Pokhara (Grey
Wilson & Phillips 261, K, det. I. kathmanduensis
by Grey-Wilson). Sati Khola, Peramchaw, 3500
ft. (Stainton et al. 6495, BM). Tinjure Danda,

171

27°10′N 87°29′E, 7500 ft. (Williams & Stainton
8379, BM). Kaski Distr., Banthati, 2180 m(Mikage et al. 9485565, TI). Sankhuwasabha
Distr., Arun Valley, ridge between Bhotebas andChichila, 27°26′N, 87°12′E, 1930 m (Long et al.
91, E). Solukhumbu Distr., Namkhli–Gori–
Gnaula, 2720 m (Miyamoto et al. 9584026, TI);
2755 m (Miyamoto et al. 9596067, TI). Terhathum Distr., ridge between Oyakjung and
Sankranti, 2000 m (Taylor 10 in Grey Wilson
4695, E, K, det. I. kathmanduensis by Grey-Wilson). Sikkim. (Cave s.n., BM). Duncors (Pantling in 1902, K). Regio temp., 6–8000 ped.
(Hooker s.n., K). Darjeeling (Cowan s.n., E);
9000 ft. (Clarke 27482A, 27482B, 27482E, K);
Peshok, 4500 ft. (Orwasbri s.n., K). Bhutan.
Kobʼ La, 7000 ft. (Cooper 4646, E).
Impatiens L. sect. Urticifoliae S.Akiyama &H.Ohba, sect. nov.
Type: I. urticifolia Wall.
Impatiens sect. Brachycentron Warb. subsect.
Epiphyticae Warb. & Reiche in Engl. & Prantl,
Pﬂanzenfam., 3, 5: 391 (1895), pro parte.
Impatiens sect. Axilliﬂorae (in Series B) Hook.
f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 1: 471 (1874), pro parte.
Inﬂorescences pendulous, racemose, with few
to many ﬂowers [Type 2a and 2b (Akiyama &Ohba, 2000)]. Leaves alternate. Flowers yellow
or purple; lower sepal bucciniform; dorsal petal
without crest-like appendage.
Distr. E Himalaya.
Species: I. gamblei Hook.f., I. hobsonii
Hook.f., I. urticifolia Wall. (type), and I. wallichii Hook.f.

Key to the species of sect. Urticifoliae in Nepal
1a. Lower lobe of lateral united petals dolabriform ................................................................................2
1b. Lower lobe of lateral united petals loriform, tailed ..........................................................................32a. Flowers pale yellow with orange spots; spur curved downward usually S-shaped ...... 1. I. wallichii
2b. Flowers purple; spur incurved forward, not S-shaped .................................................. 2. I. hobsonii
3a. Flowers yellow with reddish veins; lower sepal with elongate tip at vertical mouth, spur incurved
forward .......................................................................................................................... 3. I. urticifolia
3b. Flowers purple; lower sepal without elongate tip at oblique mouth, spur curved downward or
incurved forward .............................................................................................................. 4. I. gamblei

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Shinobu Akiyama and Hideaki Ohba

Fig. 9. Lower sepals of Impatiens (2). a: I. wallichii (Stainton et al. 1951, E). b: I. hobsonii(Stainton 828, BM). c: I. urticifolia (Ohba et al.
8530933, TI) (Akiyama et al., 1991). d: I. gamblei (Gamble 8423, K00069466). Bar indicates
10 mm.

1. Impatiens wallichii Hook.f. in Rec. Bot. Surv.
India 4: 15, 20 (1905). Type: Nepal. (Wallich
4767, K-W[K001039857], upper right and left
branches, lectotype designated here).
[Figs. 9a, 10a–f, 11]
Herbs perennial(?), erect, 26–60 cm tall,
almost glabrous. Leaves alternate, petiolate or
sessile in upper part of stem; petiole 2–10 mm
long; blade herbaceous, widely ovate (to elliptic),
5–10.3 cm×2.3–5 cm, base cuneate to truncate
or rounded, margins crenate with 17–26 notcheson one side in larger leaves, apex acuminate,
lower surfaces sometimes scabrid on veins. Inﬂorescences racemose, 2–6 cm long, axillary, notaggregated on apical part of stem, with (1 or)2–4
ﬂowers. Peduncle 2–5 cm long. Pedicels
10–20 mm long, with a bract at base or sometimes on pedicel. Flowers pale yellow withorange spots, 2.5–3.5 cm long, 2.5–3.5 cm deep.
Lateral sepals 2, ovate, ca. 5 mm long, with a few
glands on margins, apex gland-tipped. Lower
sepal bucciniform, 15–20 mm long, 13–15 mmdeep (excluding spur), constricted into spur; spur
downwardly curved, usually slightly S-shaped,
7–8 mm long. Dorsal petal ca. 12 mm long, ca.
15 mm wide when ﬂattened, base rounded, apex
slightly retuse, slightly cucullate, without crest-

like appendage. Lateral united petals ca. 3 cm
long; upper lobe widely ovate, ca. 14 mm long,ca. 10 mm wide, apex truncate; lower lobe elliptic, ca. 22 mm long, ca. 7 mm wide, apex
rounded. Anthers without appendage.
Specimens examined: Nepal. Bhiroukunda,
4100 m (Maire s.n., BM). Kali Gandaki, Larjung,S. of Tukucha, 10000 ft. (Stainton et al. 1951, E).
Kali Gandaki, Taglund (S. of Tukucha), 12000 ft.
(Stainton et al. 1756, E). Lamjung Himal, 13500
ft. (Stainton et al. 6353, E). Lamjung Himal,
Rambrong, 13500 ft. (Stainton et al. 6140, E).
Above Lumsum, 10000 ft. (Stainton et al. 4339,
E). Bagmati Zone, Rasuwa Distr., A Kharka–Pati
Kharka, 28°15′N 85°10′E, 3900 m (Miyamoto,
Akiyama et al. 9420163, TI); Chyauche Kharka–
Lingju, 28°14′N 85°07′E, 3730 m (Miyamoto,
Akiyama et al. 9420240, TI); Pabil Kharka–a
Kharka (near Seto Kund), 28°15′N 85°07′E,
3550 m (Miyamoto, Akiyama et al. 9420193, TI);
Seto Kund–Chyauche Kharka, 28°13′N 85°12′E,
4000 m (Miyamoto, Akiyama et al. 9420232, TI);
Sunchet Kharka–Lipchet Kharka, 28°07′N
85°07′E, 3500 m (Miyamoto, Akiyama et al.
9420279, TI).
Impatiens wallichii is similar to I. urticifolia,
but differs in the dolabriform (not loriform
tailed) lower lobe of the lateral united petals,
slightly S-shaped spur and widely ovate leaves. It
grows at high elevations, 3000–4200 m, in Central Nepal. Hooker (1905) cited ʻCentral Nepal
and Sikkim, alt. 10,000–11,000 ft.ʼ in the protologue, but we have not seen material from Sikkim.
2. Impatiens hobsonii Hook.f. in Rec. Bot. Surv.
India 4: 15, 20 (1905), ʻhobsoni.ʼ Type: Sikkim,
Yatung (not seen).
[Figs. 7, 9b]
Herbs erect, 40–50 cm tall, almost glabrous.
Leaves alternate, petiolate or sessile in upper partof stem; petiole 1–2.8 cm long; blade elliptic tolanceolate, 5.8–13 cm×2.8–4 cm, base attenuate,
margins crenate, apex acuminate, lower surface
nearly glabrous or with minute hairs on veins.
Inﬂorescences racemose, axillary, with 3–6 ﬂowers. Peduncle 4.5–7 cm long. Pedicels 10–16 mm

Studies of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) of Nepal 2

173

Fig. 10. Impatiens wallichii (a–f: Kanai & Shakya 672178, TI) and I. gamblei (g–n: Ohba, Akiyama et al.
9120291, TI. o–s: Hara et al. 69891, TI). a & g: Flower. b, c, h, i, o, & p: Dorsal petal. d, j, & q: Lateral united
petals. e, k, & r: Lower sepal. f, l (outer), m (inner), & s: Lateral sepal. n: Stamens. Bar indicates 10 mm.

long, with a bract at base. Flowers purple, ca.
25 mm long, ca. 25 mm deep. Lower sepal bucciniform, ca. 20 mm long, ca. 15 mm deep
(excluding spur), abruptly constricted into spur;
spur forwardly curved, ca. 7 mm long.
Specimens examined: Nepal. Arun Valley,
Maghang Khola, E. of Num, 11000 ft. (Stainton
828, BM). Milke Dande, 9000 ft. (Beer 10051,
BM). Wabak Khola, 11500 ft. (Beer 9467, BM).
We have not seen sufﬁcient material of Impatiens hobsonii to determine the shape of theﬂower, especially the lateral united petals.
3. Impatiens urticifolia Wall. in Roxb., Fl. Ind.
2: 457 (1824). Akiyama et al., Himalayan Pl. 2:
83 (1991). Type: Nepal. Gosain-Than (Wallich
4768, K-W[K001039858], lectotype designatedhere).
[Figs. 9c, 12]
Herbs, erect, 40–80 cm tall, almost glabrous or
pubescent. Leaves alternate, petiolate or sessile
in upper part of stem; petiole 5–25 mm long;
blade elliptic to narrowly elliptic to lanceolate or
broadly lanceolate, (5–)7–18 cm×3–6.5 cm, baselong attenuate to attenuate, margins crenate tocrenulate, apex acuminate or acute, both surfaces
nearly glabrous. Inﬂorescences racemose, axillary not aggregated on apical part of stem,
5–14 cm long, with 3–6 ﬂowers. Peduncle (2–)5–
13 cm long. Pedicels 15–28 mm long, with abract at base. Bracts narrowly ovate, 3–7 mm
long. Flowers yellow with red spots and stripes,
3–4.3(–5) cm long, 2.5–3.5 cm deep. Lateral
sepals 4, inner ones 2–3 mm long; or sometimes
2, ovate to widely lanceolate, 5–6 mm long, with

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Shinobu Akiyama and Hideaki Ohba

Fig. 11. Lectotype of Impatiens wallichii Hook.f. (Wallich 4767, K-W[K001039857], upper right and left
branches). The lower middle branch (K001039856) is I. discolor det. J. D. Hooker.

Studies of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) of Nepal 2

a few glands on margins, apex gland-tipped.
Lower sepal bucciniform, 20–26 mm long,
10–13 mm deep (excluding spur), with elongate
tip and vertical mouth, constricted into spur, spurforwardly incurved, 13–16 mm long in overall
length. Dorsal petal cucullate, 10–12 mm long,
14–16 mm wide when ﬂattened, without crestlike appendage. Lateral united petals 26–40 mm
long; upper lobe widely oblong to nearly squareor widely elliptic, 11–12 mm long, 6–8 mm wide,
apex rounded or truncate; lower lobe triangularovate to obovate, loriform tailed, 16–29 mm
long, 6–7 mm wide. Anthers without appendage.
Additional specimens examined (addition to
Akiyama et al., 1991). Nepal. Arun Valley,
Chooyang Khola, W. of Num, 10500 ft. (Stainton
752, A, E, TI). Kalingchok, Thala–Tale Bisauna,
2050–2750 m (Kanai et al., 10 Sept. 1970, TI).
Bajura Distr., Pategaon–Badigaon, 29°31′N
81°24′E, 3100 m (Suzuki et al. 9170640, TI).
Dhankuta Distr., Tinjure Phedi–Tinjure, 2600 m(Kanai, Ohba et al. 721110, TI); Tinjure, 2900 m(Kanai, Ohba et al. 721130, 721131, TI);
Chauke–Dor (Kanai, Ohba et al. 723228, TI);
Chauke–Tute, 2600 m (Ohashi, Ohba et al.
771263, TI); Tute–Tinjure Phedi, 27°10′ 87°25′(Ohba, Akiyama et al. 9120049, 9120051, TI).
Kalikot Distr., Panipokhari–Chaukebada, 28°59′
81°38′, 2690 m (Suzuki et al. 9170225, TI).
Kaski Distr., Banthanti–Ghodepani Deurali(Ghorapani), 29°20′ 83°40′, 2660 m (Suzuki et al.
8860649, TI); 2700 m (Suzuki et al. 881280,
881283, TI); 2950 m (Suzuki et al. 881270, TI);
Gorepani, 28°24′ 83°41′, 2530 m (Mikage et al.
9485563, TI). Panchthar Distr., Phalut, 3600 m(Kanai, Ohba et al. 723188, TI). Rasuwa Distr.,
Langtang forest area, c. 9500 ft. (Polunin 1654,
E); Deolari–Sing Gomba, 28°06′N 85°20′E(Hoshino et al. 9536049, TI); Laurebinayak–
Sing Gomba, 28°06′N 85°22′E, 3450–3950 m(Hoshino et al. 9539225, TI); Gopte–Thale Patil,
3200–3500 m (Hara et al. 723223, A, E, TI);
Gosainkund–Gopte, 3400 m (Kanai, Ohba et al.
721952, TI); between Lama Hotel and Ghora
Tabela, just southwest of Ghora Tabela, 3048 m(H. Van T. et al. N163, A); Lama Hotel–Shin-

175

gdum, 28°10′N 85°26′E (Noshiro 9154520, TI);
Pabil Kharka–a Kharka, 28°15′ 85°07′, 3650 m(Miyamoto, Akiyama et al. 9420196, TI); Chyauche Kharka–Lingju, 28°14′ 85°07′, 3730 m(Miyamoto, Akiyama et al. 9420238, TI).
Sankhuwa Sabha (Sankhuwasawa) Distr.,
Bhainsi Kharka–Khongma (Kauma), 27°35′N
87°15′E, 2900 m (Suzuki et al. 8850385, TI);
Bhuje, 2700 m (Kanai, Ohba et al. 721075, TI);
Gidde–Khokling, 27°25′N 87°28′E (Ohba, Akiyama et al. 9120113, TI); Khokling–Jaljale,
27°27′ 87°27′ (Ohba, Akiyama et al. 9120122,
TI); Kongma–Tashi Gaun, 27°40′N 87°10′E,
2150–3510 m (Minaki et al. 9020912, TI); Mangal Bare–Gupha Pokhari, 27°15′ 87°30′ (Ohba,
Akiyama et al. 9120065). Solukhumbu Distr.,
Dudh Kund–Thasing Dingma, 27°42′N 86°50′E,
3305 m (Miyamoto et al. 9596491, TI); Junbesi–
Kensa, 27°35′N 86°32′E, 3100 m (Miyamoto etal. 9592558, TI); Junbesi–Sete, 27°34′N 86°32′E,
3250 m (Wakabayashi et al. 9715306, TI);
Mosom Kharka–Tashing Dingma, 27°40′N
86°49′E, 3270 m (Wakabayashi et al. 9715240,
TI); 3430 m (Wakabayashi et al. 9720285, TI).
Bhutan. Nr Sheedrang, S of Sengor, 27°21′
91°01′, c. 2800 m (Grierson & Long 1933, E).
Impatiens urticifolia is characterized and distinguished from the other three species of section
Urticifoliae by the lower sepal with elongate tip
and vertical mouth and the longer peduncle (to13 cm).
4. Impatiens gamblei Hook.f. in Rec. Bot. Surv.
India 4: 15, 20 (1905). Type: Sikkim, Darjeeling,
Sandukpho, 11500 ft. (J. S. Gamble 8423, Sept.
1880, K000694669, lectotype designated here).
[Figs. 8, 9d, 10 g–s].
Herbs, perennial(?), erect, 30–60 cm tall,
almost glabrous. Leaves alternate, petiolate ornearly sessile in upper part of stem; petiole
2–25 mm long; blade herbaceous, elliptic,
5–12.5 cm×2–4 cm, base attenuate, margins crenate with 15–24 notches on one side, apex acuminate. Inﬂorescences racemose, axillary, 2.5–
7.3 cm long, with (1 or)2–4 ﬂowers. Peduncle
2–6.5 cm long. Pedicels 10–20 mm long, with a

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Fig. 12.

Shinobu Akiyama and Hideaki Ohba

Lectotype of Impatiens urticifolia Wall. (Wallich 4768, K-W[K001039858]).

Studies of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) of Nepal 2

bract at base or sometimes on pedicel. Bract narrowly ovate, 3–5 mm long. Flowers purple, 2.5–
3.5 cm long, 3–3.3 cm deep. Lateral sepals 2 or 4,
ovate, 3–6 mm long; inner ones sometimes minute. Lower sepal bucciniform, ca. 21 mm long,ca. 16 mm deep (excluding spur), without elongate tip at oblique mouth, abruptly constricted
into spur; spur downwardly or forwardly curved,
ca. 8 mm long overall. Dorsal petal, ca. 12 mm
long, ca 14 mm wide when ﬂattened, apex
rounded to slightly retuse, base rounded to truncate, without crest-like appendage. Lateral united
petals 30–35 mm long; upper lobe widely oblong,ca. 14 mm long, ca. 7 mm wide, apex rounded,
lower lobe triangular-ovate, loriform tailed,
22–27 mm long, 6–7 mm wide, apex acute torounded. Anthers without appendage.
Specimens examined: Nepal. Tinjure Phedi–
Tinjure, 2800 m (Kanai, Ohba et al. 721126, TI).
Koshi Zone, Sankhuwa Sabha Distr., Jaljale
Himal, Shuwan Kharka–Topke Gola, 3570–
4360 m (Ohba, Akiyama et al. 9120291, TI). Sikkim. Darjeeling, Kalopokri–Sandakphu (Haras.n. in 16 Sept. 1964, TI); Sandakphu, 3600 m(Kanai, Ohba et al. 723232, TI). Singalila,Mane(y) Bhanjan–Tonglu, 2200–3150 m (Hara etal. 69890, TI); Tonglu, 2800–3100 m (Hara et al.
69891, TI); Tonglu–Kalapokhari, 2800–3100 m(Hara et al. 69892, TI); Sandakphu–Tonglu,
2800–3970 m (Hara et al. 69893, TI).
Impatiens gamblei is similar to I. urticifolia
Wall. but distinguished by the shape of the lower
sepal without elongate tip at the oblique mouth.
Hooker (1905) distinguished it from I. urticifolia
by the size of leaves (1–3 inch long, mostly petiolate vs. 3–8 inch long, mostly sessile). From ourobservations the leaf blade is 5–12.5 cm long,while the leaf blade of I. urticifolia is (5–)7–
18 cm long, making it impossible to distinguishthese two species by leaf length. Grey-Wilson(1991) treated I. gamblei as a synonym of I. kingii and distinguished it from I. urticifolia by the
4 lateral sepals and lateral united petals (32–36 mm long; 37–42 mm long in I. urticifolia). But
I. gamblei sometimes has 4 lateral sepals (theinner ones minute) or 2 lateral sepals and lateral

177

united petals 30–35 mm long. Impatiens urticifolia also has 2 or 4 lateral sepals and lateral united
petals 26–40 mm long.
Impatiens gamblei has a bract at the base of
the pedicel, or sometimes on the pedicel.
Although the bract is sometimes on the pedicel,
the inﬂorescence is considered to be a raceme,
type 2b.
Impatiens gamblei was reported from Sikkim
and Chumbi, alt. 8000–12000 ft. (Hooker, 1905).
We examined the original material from Sikkim(Darjeeling, Sandukpho, 11500 ft., J. S. Gamble
8423, Sept. 1880, K000694669), but have notseen material from Chumbi.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to Dr. David E. Boufford, Harvard University Herbaria, for critically reading
the manuscript. We express our appreciation to
the directors of the herbaria mentioned for permitting us to study their valuable collections.
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