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A new plant species in the Kudremukh range of the Western Ghats in Karnataka, named after a professor from Madras Christian College.
Scientific name- Impatiens selvasinghii.
It is known for being the smallest-flowered species within the genus Impatiens in the Western Ghats.
Nomenclature – Named it after P. Selva Singh Richard, a botany professor from Madras Christian College, for his contributions to studying the Impatiens genus.
Discovery location -Kudremukh National Park in the Chikmagalur district of Karnataka.
Features - It is a flowering plant, belongs to balsam species.
It has an unique morphology including pendulous flowers and a deeply lobed wing petal.
It is small, deep pink to orange-pink flowers.
It differs from its closely related species, such as Impatiens herbicola, by its absence of a distinct petiolar gland, pendulous flowers, lanceolate leaves, and prominently lobed wing petals.
Habitat -The plant grows on wet rocks in evergreen forests and grasslands.
Conservation status- IUCN Red list - Data Deficient (DD).
Genus Impatiens–
The genus Impatiens belongs to the family Balsaminaceae and contains over 1,000 species, commonly known as jewelweed, touch-me-not, and impatiens.
Many Impatiens are annuals or perennials, with some developing as semi-succulent herbs.
Distribution - Impatiens plants are found in the tropics and subtropics of the World, with major biodiversity hotspots in tropical Africa, Madagascar, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent.
They are popular in horticulture, with species like Impatiens walleriana (busy Lizzie) and New Guinea impatiens being widely cultivated.
Impatiens plants are also recognized for their potential medicinal properties, containing various bioactive compounds like flavonoids and coumarins
In India, the genus Impatiens is represented by more than 280 taxa, chiefly distributed in the Eastern Himalayas and Western Ghats.
Over 210 taxa are endemic to India, of which 130 are endemic to the Western Ghats, and 80% of taxa in the Western Ghats are categorized as endangered.
