| Home | > | List of families | > | Balsaminaceae | > | Impatiens | > | assurgens |
Impatiens assurgens
Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (12)
Photo: Nicholas Wightman
By Mansa River by Kapishya Hot Springs Lodge, Shiwa N'gandu Distr., Muchinga Province
Photo: Nicholas Wightman
By Mansa River by Kapishya Hot Springs Lodge, Shiwa N'gandu Distr., Muchinga Province
Photo: Nicholas Wightman
By Mansa River by Kapishya Hot Springs Lodge, Shiwa N'gandu Distr., Muchinga Province
Photo: Nicholas Wightman
By Mansa River by Kapishya Hot Springs Lodge, Shiwa N'gandu Distr., Muchinga Province
Detailed records: Display species records QDS maps by: Google Maps Point records by Google Maps
Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
| Synonyms: |
Impatiens bussei Gilg Impatiens gratioloides Gilg Impatiens jodotricha Gilg Impatiens katangensioides De Wild. Impatiens katangensis De Wild. Impatiens sweertioides Warb. |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | Locally common |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Annual or perennial juicy herb from less than 10 to more than 60 cm high or more, usually erect; stems simple or little branched, hairless or pubescent on younger parts. Leaves opposite, rarely 3-whorled, sometimes crowded on the upper part of the stem, linear, lanceolate, ovate, elliptic or rarely almost circular, lower leaves often much broader and shorter than higher ones, from thinly textured to stiflly leathery or semi-succulent, usually hairless but sometimes pubescent on both surfaces, dark green above, greyish-green beneath; margins slightly crenate-denticulate; petiole 2–5 mm long, pubescent or hairless. Flowers axillary, solitary or very rarely in pairs, varying from white, with or without raised yellow marks in the throat, a pinkish spur, to deep pink, sometimes with an orange throat; pedicel 2–7 cm long, hairless or pubescent. Lateral sepals more or less broadly lanceolate, 3–5 mm long, usually hairless; posterior sepal broadly helmet-sheped, 4–10 mm deep and up to 1·3 cm in diameter, abruptly constricted into a spur 4–10 mm long, usually incurved. Anterior petal 8–12 mm long and wide, hairless or with a row of stiff white hairs on the crest. Lateral pair of united petals 15–25 mm long, deeply 2-lobed; posterior lobe about 1/2 to 2/3 the size of the anterior one. Capsule spindle-shaped, 0·9–1·5 cm long, hairless or rarely sparsely hairy when young. |
| Notes: | This is a widespread and variable species, varying in leaf-shape; flower colour from white to deep carmine pink and plant size from slender, soft straggling plants to short plants with thick stiff leathery/succulent leaves. |
| Derivation of specific name: | assurgens; tending to rise, curving upward, ascending or assurgent. |
| Habitat: | In grassland, open woodland and in swampy areas, dambos or on river banks, often in wet sandy soil. |
| Altitude range: | |
| Flowering time: | |
| Worldwide distribution: | Angola, DRC, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia. |
| Mozambique distribution: | N |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Content last updated: | Saturday 6 April 2019 |
| Literature: |
Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 64 - 65. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 113. Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 36. Grey-Wilson, C. (1980). Impatiens of Africa A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Pages 174 - 175. (Includes a picture). Grey-Wilson, C. (1982). Balsaminaceae Flora of Tropical East Africa Pages 57 - 58. Launert, E. (1963). Balsaminaceae Flora Zambesiaca 2(1) Pages 168 - 170. Launert, E. & Gonçalves, M.L. (1969). 36. Balsaminaceae Flora de Moçambique Junta de Investigaçoes de Ultramar, Centro de Botanica Pages 7 - 8. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 35. |
Other sources of information about Impatiens assurgens:
Our websites:
Flora of Burundi: Impatiens assurgensFlora of Malawi: Impatiens assurgens
Flora of Zambia: Impatiens assurgens
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Impatiens assurgensAfrican Plant Database: Impatiens assurgens
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Impatiens assurgens
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Impatiens assurgens
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Impatiens assurgens
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Impatiens assurgens
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Impatiens assurgens
JSTOR Plant Science: Impatiens assurgens
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Impatiens assurgens
Plants of the World Online: Impatiens assurgens
Tropicos: Impatiens assurgens
Wikipedia: Impatiens assurgens
| Home | > | List of families | > | Balsaminaceae | > | Impatiens | > | assurgens |