Impatiens yixiangensis Han W. Huang & R. Li, 2025

Impatiens yixiangensis Han W. Huang & R. Li , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–3 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 )

Type:— CHINA. Sichuan: Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture ( ṐƜḋânàffl), Yuexi County ( ŭð县), Puxiong Town ( üḃû), Shenguozhuang Nature Reserve ( ϕφĖnĔ保ṕ区), 28.62°N, 102.90°E, 3,263 m a.s.l., 29 July 2023, H.W. Huang HHW0001 ( Holotype: KUN!).

Diagnosis:— Impatiens yixiangensis is similar to I. imbecilla in leaf blade shape, flower color, and the linear shape of the sepals and capsule. However, it can be distinguished by several morphological differences: indumentum of the adaxial surface of leaf blade (puberulent versus glabrous), flower number of each inflorescence (1-flowered versus 1 or 2-flowered), spur length ( 2–4 mm versus 14 mm) and shape (slightly incurved versus erect or curved), the indumentum of the inner surface of united lateral petals at the central part (puberulent versus glabrous), auricle shape (short rectangular versus linear and elongate), and auricle length ( 2–3 mm versus 7 mm).

Description:— Annual herbs. Main root absent, lateral roots many. Stems erect, 15–50 cm tall, red or yellowish green, slightly tetragonal, slender; nodes slightly swollen, yellowish green; simple or shortly branched. Leaves alternate, often aggregated above; petiole 0.5– 3 cm long; leaf blades ovate-oblong or elliptic, 3–7 × 1.5– 4 cm, membranaceous, adaxially puberulent, abaxially glabrous, base cuneate, slightly oblique, margin coarsely crenate, teeth obtuse or mucronulate, apex acuminate, lateral veins 5–7 pairs. Inflorescences axillary, 1-flowered, peduncles 2–5 cm long, densely puberulent, slender. Pedicels 0.2–0.8 cm long, bracteate at base, densely puberulent. Bracts ovate-lanceolate, puberulent on midrib. Flowers white or pink, 1.5– 3 cm in diam., 2–3 cm long. Lateral sepals 2, 1–3 × 3–6 mm, ovate, inequilateral, hyaline margined, midrib green, dorsally prominent and puberulent. Lower sepal navicular, 0.5– 1 cm long, 4–8 mm deep excluding the spur, lip 1–1.5 cm wide, apex gradually narrowed into a slightly incurved spur, spur 2–4 mm long, the outside of the spur puberulent. Dorsal petal broadly reniform, 0.6–1 × 0.8– 2 cm, base concave, apex rounded or emarginate, abaxial midvein carinate, puberulent. United lateral petals not clawed, with fuchsia striations, 1.5– 2 cm long, 2-lobed; upper petal suborbicular, apex round, pink or white, 8–12 × 8–12 mm, striations obvious, densely puberulent at the central part; lower petal dolabriform, pink, basal yellow, 1.5–2.2 × 0.7– 1 cm, ca. 2 × as long as the upper petals, densely puberulent at the central part, auricle short rectangle, yellow, 2–3 mm long, inserted into the spur. Filaments very short, broad; anthers obtuse. Ovary 5–6 mm long, erect, glabrous. Capsule linear, 2–3 cm long, carpels 5. Seed ellipsoid.

Phenology:— Impatiens yixiangensis was observed with flowers and fruits in June to October.

Distribution:— The new species was found under the coniferous forest at the elevation about 3,200 m and was currently known only from two sites in Yuexi County and Meigu County, Sichuan, China.

Etymology:— The specific epithet of the new species refers to the region where the plant was found is the hometown of the Yi people in China.

Chinese name:— ‘ ḋ乡凤仙″ ’ (Yí Xiāng Fèng Xiān Huā).

Paratypes:— CHINA. Sichuan: Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture ( ṐƜḋânàffl), Meigu County ( ṯ姑 县), Hongxi Town ( ȃãû), Er’alongkyba Ranch ( 尔āfiỉ坝ä场), 28.62°N, 102.90°E, 3,263 m a.s.l., 29 July 2023, H.W. Huang, HHW0002 (KUN!), H.W. Huang, HHW0003 (KUN!).

Additional specimens examined: I. imbecilla :— CHINA. Sichuan: Songpan County, E. Faber (NY [barcode 00141256, 00406457], photo); Leshan County, Omei [Emei] Mountain, 2743 m a.s.l., 1887, E. Faber (K [barcode 000694640], photo); Leshan County, Omei [Emei] Mountain, Xixiangchi, 2000 m a.s.l., 16 September 1984, Qing Guo 871610 (PE [barcode 00062144], photo). I. faberi :— CHINA. Sichuan: Wa-shan, 1524 m a.s.l., 18 September 1908, E. H. Wilson (GH [barcode 01154739], photo); 1371 m, E. Faber (NY [barcode 00406454], photo); Leshan County, Emei Mountain, Mutigou, 29°34′55″N, 103°21′47″E, 1221 m a.s.l., 6 October 2012, X. J. Li LiXJ172 (KUN [barcode 1321442], photo); Leshan County, Omei [Emei] Mountain, 7 September 1985, Y. L. Chen C. Grey-Wilson 85- 24 (PE [barcode 00061914, 00061915, 00061916, 00061917, 00061918, 00061919], photo). I. wawuensis :— CHINA. Sichuan: Hongya County, Wawu Township, Baisha River, Wawu Mountain Provincial Nature Reserve, 29°26′34.4″N, 102°54′37.8″E, 2350 m a.s.l., 24 September 2015, B. Ding 201509062 (KUN). I. baishaensis :— CHINA. Sichuan: Hongya County,Wawu Township, Baisha River, Wawu Shan Provincial Nature Reserve, 29°26′48.17″ N, 102°54′20.49″ E, 2250 m a.s.l., 24 September 2015, B. Ding 201509060 (PE, photo).