| Pink Orchid Balsam |
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| File size | 567231 |
| Original date | 6/29/09 9:50 PM |
| Resolution | 2048 x 1536 |
| Flash | Flash fired, red-eye reduction |
| Focal length | 38.4mm |
| Exposure time | 1/80s |
| Aperture | 5.9 |
| Focus Distance | |
| Metering Mode | Center weighted average |
| Camera make | Canon |
| Camera model | Canon PowerShot A2000 IS |
| Sensor type | OneChipColorArea |
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Photo: |
Botanical name: Impatiens flaccida Family: Balsaminaceae (Balsam family)
Pink Orchid Balsam is an erect or decumbent herb native to the Western
Ghats in India and in Sri Lanka. It grows to 1.5 ft tall with thin stems,
rooting at the lower nodes. The alternate leaves are ovate-lanceshaped,
growing up to 3-8 cm long and 2-3.5 cm wide, ribbed. Leaves have toothed margin,
and are sparsely velvety. The orchid-
shaped flowers are about 3-4 cm across across, with a long, incurved tail.
The color is a vivid shade of pinkish lavender, with bright
magenta at the center. Dorsal petal is inverted-heartshaped, deeply notched,
keeled on the back, ending in a narrow point. Lateral united petals are
2.5 cm long, upper and lower ones equal in size, both obovate, slightly
notched. Seed capsule is spindle-shaped, 1.5 cm long. Pink Orchid Balsam is
a rare species from Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.
| Identification credit: Shrishail Kulloli | Photographed in Kerala. |
• Is this flower misidentified? If yes,