Common name: Rock Balsam • Marathi: पाण तेरडा Pan terda (Marathi), Lahan-Tirda
Botanical name: Impatiens acaulis Family: Balsaminaceae (balsam family)
Pan terda is a perennial herb commonly found gregariously growing on rock
faces in the Western Ghats. Leaves vary in size and shape - oblong, base
rounded, irregularly toothed. Beautiful pink flowers occur in racemes 3-10 cm
long. There are four "petals" visible to the eye, but technically there are
only 3 petals. The front one is short and insignificant. The two petals at the
back are long and deeply 2-lobed. The flowers color varies from a delicate
light pink to deep pink. The petals are white near the base. The usual balsam
"spur" is slender, long and curved.
| Photographed in
Lonavala, Maharashtra. |
Identification credit: Pravin Kawale
|
ative