-Scientists from University of Kalikat in Kerala, have discovered four new species of balsam in Arunachal Pradesh.
-These new four species of Balsam are:
1. Impatiens Haridasanii: It was named after Haridasan,Throwing, a former scientist from Aruanchal Pradesh. It was discovered in Pongcan. This species has small pure yellow flowers and hairy leaves.
2. Impatiens pseudocitrina: It was discovered in Anjaw district. It has sports bright yellow flowers with small red spots on the throat and a long spur at the back.
3. Impatiens nilalohitae . It was discovered in Lower Dibang valley. It grows to a height of more than one metre and has dark purple flowers with pale yellow throat and green stalk. Its name nilalohitae denotes the dark purple colour in Sanskrit.
4. I.roingensis: It was found growing in Roing and Upper Siang in Arunachal Pradesh. This species has clustered white flowers with yellow patch on the mouth and hooked spur.
-The researchers have also rediscovered another species I. agastyamalayensis from the Western Ghats after a gap of more than a century.
About Balsam
- Balsams grow in rich moist soil.
- About 1,000 species of these angiosperms or closed seeded plants are known to occur. More than 230 balsam are found in India.
- Balsams are distributed throughout the Eastern Himalayas and the Western Ghats, Sri Lanka, South East Asia, Africa and Madagascar.
- It is commonly known as jewel weeds because of the diverse colour of the flowers.
- The genus is scientifically named as Impatiens, signifying the impatient nature of the fruits which explode suddenly when touched.
- India is home to more than 230 balsam species.
