Impatiens flemingii - Himachal Balsam

Himachal Balsam is an annual, hairless herb with white and pink stalked flowers with yellow throat, 1.2-3.2 cm long with spur. It is somewhat similar to Balfour's Balsam. Lateral sepals are ovate, slightly curved on one side, with few appendages along margins, about 3 x 2 mm. Lip is shallowly boat-shaped, 0.6-1.5 cm long, spurred; spur abruptly constricted, thread-like, curved, 0.5-2.5 cm. Standard is inverted-heart-shaped to nearly round, blunt, about 6 x 4 mm. Wings are bilobed; basal lobes ovate, about 1.1 x 0.3 cm; distal lobes broadly oblong. Flower-cluster-stalks are slender, 0.5-12 cm long, hairless; flower-stalks 0.9-1.8 cm, hairless. Leaves are alternate or opposite, elliptic ovate to lanceshaped, gradually narrowed towards base, pointed to long-tapering at tip, shallowly rounded toothed to toothed along margins with lower teeth thread-like, gland-tipped. Leaves are finely velvet-hairy on both surfaces; lateral nerves 4-10 pairs; leaf-stalks 0.8-3.2 cm, hairless. Capsules are linear, pointed, 0.3 - 1.2 cm Himachal Balsam is found in N. Pakistan to W. Himalayas, at altitudes of 1500-3200 m. Flowering: June-August.