Taiwania 60(4):175‒180, 2015 DOI: 10.6165/tai.2015.60.175 Two New Species of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) from North of Lao PDR Keooudone Souvannakhoummane(1, 3*) and Piyakaset Suksathan(2) 1. Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden, Ban Wat That, PO Box 959, Luang Prabang 06000, Lao PDR. 2. Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, the Botanical Garden Organization, Chiang Mai 50180, Thailand. 3. The Agro-Biodiversity Initiative (TABI), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Lao PDR. *Corresponding author: [email protected] or [email protected] (Manuscript received 17 Auguest 2015; accepted 15 October 2015) ABSTRACT: Impatiens gadellae Souvann. & Suksathan, Impatiens nurae Souvann. & Suksathan, two new species from North Lao PDR, are described and illustrated with conservation statuses propose. KEY WORDS: Impatiens, Balsaminaceae, Taxonomical, Limestone flora, Lao PDR. INTRODUCTION June 2012, K.Souvannakhoummane & K.Phoutthavong KS 470, (Holotype: NHL!, Isotypes: QBG!, Pha Tad Ke The genus Impatiens is the annual and perennial Botanical Garden Herbarium!). herb, rarely sub-shrub. The genus consists of over 1000 Lithophytic succulent perennial herb, up to 50 cm species; it is widely distributed in tropical and tall, with swollen caudiform base ca 10 cm in diameter, sub-tropical regions of Asia and Africa. A few number wholly wart-like shape; stems usually one upright, 1-2 of Impatiens extend into Europe and Central America. cm in diameter at the base, sometime branched rising In Laos, seventeen native Impatiens species have been from points at top of the swollen stem. Leaves spirally enumerated in previous works (Hooker 1909, Tardieu arrangement or alternate, crowded on the upper part of 1944, Ho 2003, Newman 2008). A very few number stem, petioles 4-10 cm long, when young red-green; species of Impatiens have been report from Laos, lamina ovate to broadly lanceolate, 5‒13  3‒10 cm, probably many species wait to discovery from Laos. coriaceous, apex acuminate, base cuneate to subcordate, Considering the richness of Impatiens species of the sometime oblique, margines serrate, adaxially waxy neighbouring countries, it seems safe to estimate that green, abaxially light green, biglandular at base; lateral more than 40 species could be found in Laos. nerves 6‒9 pairs. Inflorescence axilliary, solitary or In 2010, we had surveyed in north Laos area where fascicle 1‒2(‒3)-flowered at the top of axial; pedicles we collected plant for the ex-situ conservation at Pha up to 10‒12 cm long, suberect, pendulous at apex, Tad Ke Botanical Garden. It is the first botanical glabrous, red-green, minute bract at base. Flowers pink garden of Lao PDR, being planting. We found to white, yellow inside; lateral sepals 4, outer one pair un-described Impatiens growing on limestone forest at broadly ovate to orbicular 2  2.5 cm, mucronate at Luang Prabang and Vientiane province. A living apex, outside pale pink with line dark pink from base to collection is planting in Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden. apex, macronate dark green, inside white; inner one In this paper we described two new species from north pair lanceolate-ovate ca 3 mm long, pink; dorsal petal Lao PDR, using the descriptive terminology of elliptic 6‒10  15‒18 mm long, dorsal with crested up Suksathan & Triboun (2009). to 2 mm tall, rostrum at apex up 2.5 mm tall, dark pink; lower sepal broadly bucciniform to subsaccate, 1.5 cm TAXONOMIC TREATMENT deeply, 2 cm across of mouth, apicular with mucronate up to ca. 5 mm, inside and outside white; spurred Impatiens gadellae Souvann. & Suksathan, sp. nov. curved at base, deeply bifid at apex, 0.8 cm long, pale Tien Hin Pha Figs. 1 & 2 yellow at base and apex; lateral united petals connate, Similar to Impatiens kerriae Craib, but differs by pink-white, with yellow patch in the middle of the smaller in habit; without branches at middle stems; connate lower petal; upper petal semi-orbicular to lateral united petals flat with yellow at middle point elliptic, ca 9  8 mm; lower petal connate about 1/3 connect; lower sepal broadly bucciniform to subsaccate, of the length, obovate in outline ca 2.5  1.5 cm; with abruptly constricted into a spur recurred at base; androgynocium obtuse at apex; filament connate at base; seed thinly ellipsoides up to 2 mm long. anthers yellowish-white; ovary clavate, pendulose, Type: Lao PDR.: Luang Prabang province, Long curved near the apex, 4-angles, white-green. Capsule Lao village, limestone mountain, deciduous mixed calvate up to 2.5 cm long. Seed thinly elliptisoid, ca 2 bamboo forest, 19°45′26.31′′N, 102°03′56′′E, 500 m, 20 mm, long, brown. 175 Taiwania Vol. 60, No. 4 Fig 1: Impatiens gadellae Souvann. & Suksathan, A. Habit; B. Flower lateral view and front view; C. Lateral united petals; D. Lower sepal with spur; E Outer lateral sepals; F. Inner lateral sepals; G. Upper petal; H. Capsule; J. Androgynoecium. (Scale bar, A=5 cm, B, C, D.E, F, G, H, J=1 cm) [Draw line by: K.Souvannakhoummane]. Phenology: Flowering during the rainy season Tad Ke Botanical garden, who kindly launched of the between June to October; fruiting August to November. botanical garden in Lao PDR. Distribution and habitat: Endemic to northern Laos Proposed IUCN status: VU. This species has a (Luang Prabang). Growing on shaded limestone crevices very small extent of occurrence of 1400 km2, now along cliffs in deciduous mixed bamboo forest, growing known only in Luang Prabang province as the with Adiantum sp., Argostema sp., Amorphophallus ssp. limestone mountain near the top of Kwuang Si and Curcuma sp., ca 300‒1500 m altitude. waterfall and Pha Youak Mountain in Nan district; the Additional specimens examined: Lao PDR., Luang both places seem like valleys. The species is therefore Prabang province, Nan district, Pha youak village, limestone forest, listed as vulnerable. 18 July 2014, Maknoi, C., Pongamornkul, W., Souvannakhoummane, Note: This species has been placed in K., L3-021 (QBG!, NHL!, Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden Herbarium!); Semeiocardium group with I. kerriae Craib and I. 16 June 2015, K.Photthavong, Nura Abdul Karim & K. Souvannakhoummane LP-148 (NHL, SING, Pha Tad Ke Botanical parishii Hook.f. but, can be recognized by stem short, Garden Herbarium!). leaves broadly lanceolate-ovate, lower sepals broadly Etymology: The specific epithet is named in bucciniform to subsaccate. honour of Mr. Rik Gadella, the general director of Pha 176 December 2015 Souvannakhoummane and Suksathan: Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) from Lao PDR Fig 2: Impatiens gadellae Souvann. & Suksathan, A. plant; B. Capsule fruits; C. flower front view; D. flower lateral view; E-F: Impatiens parishii Hook.f, E. flower front view; F. flower lateral view; G-H: Impatiens kerriae Craib, G. flower front view & H. flower lateral view. Photo by K. Souvannakhoummane, A-F, Photo by K. Phoutthavong, G & H. Impatiens nurae Souvann. & Suksathan, sp. nov. 477 (Holotype: NHL!, Isotypes: QBG!, Pha Tad Ke Botanical Tien Nang Si, Figs 3 & 4 Garden Hebarium!) Lithophytic annual herb, complete glabrous, with Similar to Impatiens calcicola Craib, but differs by green erect cylindrical main stem up to 100 cm tall, ca dark purple on leaves lower surface; flower smaller size; 2 cm in diameter at base, adventitious rooting at below, outer lateral sepals separate red dot line with green; richly branches at the top; branches of stem up to 20 cm lateral united petals white; lower sepal spur short with long, a little zigzag, purplish red or purplish brown, green; similar to Impatiens macrosepala Hook.f., but rather thin. Leaves alternate, ovate to broadly lanceolate, differs by outer lateral sepals not connected, apex acuminate, base cuneate to round, sometimes pubescence and lightly green, dorsal petal crest behind oblique, margin crenate to serrate, with two distinct, dark red. short stalked, fusiform glands at the base beneath, Type: Lao PDR: Vientiane province, Vang Vieng district, lateral veins 12 pairs of 15‒20 pairs to midrib; radial 23 Jun. 2012, K.Souvannakhoummane & K.Phoutthavong KS leaves ones larger, spirally arranged; petiole 4-7 cm 177 Taiwania Vol. 60, No. 4 Fig 3: Impatiens nurae Souvann. & Suksathan, A. plant; B. flower lateral view; C. flower top view; D. lower sepal: E. outer lateral sepals; F. inner lateral sepals; G. dorsal petal; H. Lateral united petals . (Scale bar, A=5 cm, B, C, D, E, F, G, H=1 cm) [Draw line by: K.Souvannakhoummane]. long, dark red to brown; lamina up to 15‒20 by 7‒10 bucciniform, yellowish to pale green with red striped cm, abaxial, glabrous pale purple to light green, adaxial veins on outer surface, yellowish-orange on the inner dark green with hairy; the upper leaves congested on surface, abruptly constricted into a 0.5 cm long, short the top of the branches, smaller, alternately arranged straight spur, deeply bifid, nipple-like, incurved at bifid along branches, petiole 0.4‒0.9 cm long and lamina 1 point, green; dorsal petal green-white or pale red, ca 1.5 by 3 cm. Flowers white, axillary, solitary or 2‒ by 1 cm, elliptic to oblong, retuse, with a thick, dark 3-fascicled, pendulous under the leaves, ca 3 cm long; red blunt crest on the lower half, apex obcordate, with pedicel ca 0.5‒1 cm long; minutely bracteates at base; sub-apical mucro; lateral united petals connate entirely lateral sepals 4, the outer pair yellowish, pale red white; upper petal ca 7 mm, semicircular, apex round; striped veins on the outside surface, ca 10 by 6 mm, lower petals connate for about half the length, obliquely ovate, mucronate at apex, dark red to brown; suborbicular in outline, ca 2 cm long, with a prominent the inner pairs strongly reduced into narrowly basally bilobed keel, yellow with orange to dark brown lanceolate, ca 3 mm long scales; lower sepal 2 cm long patch, apex bifid. Ovary glabrous 4-carpellate. Fruits across the mouth, 1 cm deep, broadly navicular to small fusiform ca 2 cm long; seeds ellipsoid, ca 2 mm. 178 December 2015 Souvannakhoummane and Suksathan: Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) from Lao PDR Fig 4: Impatiens nurae Souvann. & Suksathan, A. habit; B. show purple on lower surface leave; C. flower top view; D. flower lateral view. E. flower front view; F. flower front view of Impatiens calcicola Craib; G. flower front view of Impatiens macrosepala Hook.f. Photo by K. Souvannakhoummane; F-G by Dr. Pramote Triboun from Thai species. Phenology: Flowering during the rainy season department, Singapore Botanical Garden), who kindly between June to October; fruiting August to November. teach about system of living collection managements with Distribution: Endemic to Laos Iris BG software for Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden staff. Additional specimens examined: Lao PDR: Vientiane Proposed IUCN status: NT. This species current province, Vang Vieng district, Bouamanivong, S VV 101 (NHL!) known only from type specimen and the known locality Ecology: Growing in open limestone scrub are without protected areas, near the mining area for vegetation, summit of Limestone Mountain and humid make cement and there are no known threats. wet in evergreen forest. ca 200‒800 m alt. Therefore listed as Near Threatened. Etymology: The specific epithet is named in honour Notes: This species very closely with Impatiens of Dr. Nura Abdul Karim (Director of horticulture calcicola, but differs by small flower white and red 179 Taiwania Vol. 60, No. 4 strip on outer surface of lateral sepals; purple on lower Newmen, M.F. 2008. Impatiens phachycaulon (Balsaminaceae), surface leave; similar with Impatiens macrosepala, but A new species from Laos. Edinb. J. Bot. 65(1):23-26. different by lateral outer sepals are not connate and Newman, M., S. Ketphanh, B. Svengsuksa, P. Thomas, K. Sengdala, V. Lamxay and K. Armstrong. 2007. A pubescence checklist of the vascular plants of Laos PDR. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Pham Hoaung Ho. 2003. An Illustrated Flora of Vietnam. II. Hochimine city, Vietnam. p.298-306. We would like to thank Mr. Rik Gadella (General Suksathan, P. and P. Triboun. 2009. Ten new species of Director of PTK) for his financial support, and his love of the Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) from Thailand. Gardens’ nature and the traditions of Laos. He first created the vision of Bulletin Singapore 61(1):159-184. a botanical garden in Laos and also to Kitthisak Phoutthavong, Shimizu, T. 1970. Contributions to the Flora of Southeast Charun Maknoi and Wittaya Pongamornkul for supplying Asia II. Impatiens of Thailand and Malay. Southeast specimens and assistance in the field. The first author would Asian Studies 8(2): 187-217. like to thank Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bouakhaykhone Svengsuksa Shimizu, T. 1977. Some additional note on Impatiens and Mrs. Suzanne Young for reading and commenting on the (Balsaminaceae) of Thailand. Acta Phytotax. Geobot. text and also thank to Dr. Pramote Triboun (TISTR) for give 23(1-3):31-34. photos. The ending thank to Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden for Shimizu, T. 2000. New species of Thai Impatiens financial support. The two reviewers are acknowledged for (Balsanimaceae) 2. Bulletin of the National Science their constructive comments and language improvements of Museum, Series B (Botany) 26(2): 35-42. this manuscript. Shimizu, T. and Suksathan, P. 2004. Three new species of the Impatiens (Balsaminaceae). part 3 Bulletin of the national LITERATURE CITED Science Museum, Series B (Botany) 30(4):165-171. Yu, S.X., Y.L. Chen and H.N. Qin, 2009. Impatiens Chen, Y., S. Akiyama and H. Ohba. 2007. Flora of China lobulifera (Balsaminaceae), a new species from limestone Vol. 12: 43-114. Beijing and St. Louis: Science Press, and areas in Guangxi, China. 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