Impatiens lukwangulensis Grey-Wilson

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

Habit

Simple or sparingly branched perennial to 70–80 cm. tall; stems decumbent to erect, finely pubescent, glabrescent below.

Leaves

Leaves spirally arranged; petiole 0.7–3.3 cm. long; lamina ovate, 2.7–6 cm. long, 2–3.7 cm. broad, subacute, the base rounded or subcordate, pubescent above and beneath; lateral veins 5–8 pairs, almost reticulately veined beneath; margin crenate-dentate.

Flowers

Flowers solitary or 2-fascicled, ependuculate, deep rose-lilac.

Bracts

Bracts linear-subulate, ± 3 mm. long, inconspicuous.

Pedicel

Pedicels 4.5–5.2 cm. long, slender, pubescent.

Calyx

Lateral sepals linear-lanceolate, 5–6 mm. long, acute, pubescent mainly along the margin. Lower sepal obliquely navicular, 11–12 mm. long, 3.5–5 mm. deep, abruptly constricted into a 23–24 mm. long curved filiform spur, finely pubescent throughout.

Corolla

Lateral united petals 25–26 mm. long, the upper petal of each pair slightly smaller than the lower; upper petal oblong-ovate, 13–14 mm. long, 10–11 mm. broad, shortly apiculate; lower petal suborbicular, 16–17 mm. long, 12–14 mm. broad, distally drawn out into a short 3–3.5 × 2.5 mm. appendage. Dorsal petal suborbicular, ± 14 mm. long and 17 mm. broad, emarginate, dorsally with a narrow crest terminating in a short acute point, finely pubescent along the crest and towards the base.

Ovary

Ovary pubescent.

Fruits

Fruit and seeds unknown.

Figures

Figs. 3/29, p. 6; 6, p. 37.

Habitat

In moist shaded places in dense upland rain-forest, sometimes along pathways and tracks, also in bushland or forest patches in upland grassland; 1650–2500 m.

Distribution

T6 known only from the Uluguru Mts.