Common name: Sultan's Balsam, Busy Lizzy, Japanese balsam • Manipuri: খুজং লৈ Khujang lei
Botanical name: Impatiens walleriana Family: Balsaminaceae (Balsam family)
Synonyms: Impatiens sultani
Sultan's balsam is native to eastern Africa from Tanzania to Mozambique. It
is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 15-60 cm tall, with broad
lanceolate
leaves 3-12 cm long and 2-5 cm broad, with toothed margins and a long stalk
bearing stalked glands. The flowers are profusely borne, 2-5 cm diameter,
with five petals. The numerous garden cultivars, selected for varying
flower colours, include: ‘Accent Stars’, ‘Confection’, ‘Blackberry Ice’,
‘Eclipse’, ‘Elfin White’, ‘Extra Dwarf’, ‘Lipstick’, ‘Red Star’, ‘Super
Elfin’, ‘Tempo Series’ and ‘Wink and Blink’.
| Photographed in Nainital. |
|
ntroduced