Impatiens kinabaluensis

Impatiens kinabaluensis, the Kinabalu balsam, is a flowering plant in the family Balsaminaceae. It is endemic to Borneo.

Impatiens kinabaluensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Balsaminaceae
Genus:	Impatiens
Species:	I. kinabaluensis
Binomial name
Impatiens kinabaluensis S. Akiyama & H. Ohba, 2005

Etymology

The genus name Impatiens (Latin for "impatient") refers to the explosive dehiscence of the fruit. The species name kinabaluensis refers to Mount Kinabalu, the type locality.

Description

Impatiens kinabaluensis reaches about 90 centimetres (35 in) in height. It has long, rigid stems. The leaves are about 3-4 inches long, dark green, entire, ovate to lanceolate-ovate, ribbed and shiny. The upper surface has a thick, water-repellent cuticula. The flowers are pink-lilac and bloom from April through November.

Distribution

This plant occurs in Kinabalu National Park in Sabah on the island of Borneo.

Habitat

It grows in shaded rainforests, with moist, well-drained soil, at an altitude of about 1,700 metres (5,600 ft) above sea level.

External links

• International Plant Names
• Tropicos
• EoL

Further reading

• Akiyama, S., et al. 2005. A new species of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) from Mt. Kinabalu, Borneo. J. Jap. Bot. 80(5) 266–270.
• Ikeda, H., et al. 2005. A cytotaxonomic study of five species of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) in Java and Borneo, Malesia. J. Jap. Bot. 80(5) 271–77.