Impatiens sterilis, a rare new species of Impatiens with reduced sterile inflorescences from Yunnan, China

Impatiens sterilis, a rare new species of Impatiens with reduced sterile inflorescences from Yunnan, China

Impatiens sterilis (Balsaminaceae), discovered in Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated here. It belongs to I. section Racemosae and is related to I. scutisepala. I. sterilis differs from the latter species in the shape of the leaf blades and the lower sepal, the number of lateral sepals, and producing some reduced sterile inflorescences at the end of anthesis. Detailed notes on morphology, key diagnostic characters, distribution, pollen and seed morphology, conservation status and color photographs are provided for the identification of the new species.