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Type: Article
Published: 2017-03-14
Page range: 269–276
Abstract views: 37
PDF downloaded: 3

Impatiens galactica (Balsaminaceae), a new spurless species of section Trimorphopetalum from Madagascar

Institute for Integrated Natural Sciences – Biology, University of Koblenz-Landau, Universitätsstraße 1, 56070 Koblenz, Germany.
Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza, BP 4096 Antananarivo & Université de Mahajanga, République de Madagascar.
Nees-Institute for Plant Biodiversity, University of Bonn, Meckenheimer Allee 170, 53115 Bonn, Germany.
Balsaminaceae Impatiens galactica new spurless species Trimorphopetalum endemic Marojejy Madagascar touch-me-not Eudicots

Abstract

Impatiens galactica, a new species from lowland rainforest in Marojejy National Park, NE Madagascar, is described and illustrated. It belongs to Impatiens section Trimorphopetalum and is related to I. messmerae, also known from Mt. Marojejy. Impatiens galactica differs from the latter species in the shape of the lateral sepals, and in the dorsal petal and the lateral united petals being entirely glabrous and lacking small white scales. Furthermore, I. galactica has a distinct flower morphology with strongly reduced upper lobes of the lateral united petals. The lateral petals are thus resembling the lower case letter “b” or “d”, respectively. Additionally, it has unusually coloured yellowish white, semi-transparent flowers with an orange-yellow, shiny line along the midrib of the lower sepal, all of which are lacking in I. messmerae.