- Tas. 7960. 
IMPATIENS Otivert. 
Native of Tropical Africa. 
Nat, Ord. GeRANIACEZ.—Tribe BALsaMINE*. 
Genus Iupatiens, Linn.; (Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. 1. p. 277.) 
Impatiens Oliveri; herba glaberrima usque ad 4 ped. alta, caulibus erectis 
dilute viridibus supra nodos spe incrassatis, foliis irregulariter verticillatis 
oblanceolatis acutis vel acuminatis setoso-ciliatis usque ad 8 poll. longis 
23 poll. latis, pedunculis unifloris 24 poll. longis, pedicellis 1} poll. longis, 
bracteolis 2 altera 3 lin. longa lanceolato recurva altera 4 lin. longa, | 
floribus circa 2} poll, diam. dilute lilacinis vel roseis dorso pallidioribus, 
sepalis lateralibus ovatis acuminatis apiculatis quam petalis 2-3-plo 
brevioribus, labio ovato infundibuliformi abrupte reflexeque mucronato 
parte infundibuliformi $ poll. longa, caleare curvato tenui 12 poll. longo, 
vexillo e basi lata suborbiculari apice recurvato apiculato, alis profunde 
bilobis, lobo terminali obovato quam laterali subcordato paullo longiore, 
fructibus oblongis acuminatis, seminibus 1 lin, longis ovoideis verrucosis. 
I. Oliveri, C. H. Wright ea W. Watson in Gard. Chron. 1903, vol. ii. p. 178. 
I. Thomsoni, Oliw. in Journ, Linn Soc. Bot. vol. xxi. (1886) p. 398, now Hook. f. 
nec Bot. Mag. tab. 7795. 
This plant was discovered by the late Mr. Joseph 
Thomson, F.R.G.S., at Lykipia, Tropical Hast Africa, at 
elevations of 6,000 to 8,000 feet, with flowers scarcely 
more than an inch and a half across, which under cultiva- 
tion have greatly increased in size, and rival those of 
I. grandiflora, Hemsl. (tab. 7826). 
Our illustration was taken from a plant at Kew, raised 
from seeds presented by Sir John Kirk, K.C.M.G., which 
were obtained along the Uganda railway, about 300 miles 
inland, on volcanic rocks or tufa, at an elevation of 
6,800 ft. The flowers of the wild plant are said to be 
white, but under cultivation they assume a pale lilac or 
occasionally rosy tint. ‘They were first produced at Kew 
in July, 1903, and fruit was developed in the following 
November. Flowers were also produced in September, 
and at the end of April of the present year plants were 
in full flower in the Begonia house, where they continue 
to thrive. Being of vigorous habit and a profuse bloomer, 
it is likely to get into general cultivation. 
Descr.—A perfectly glabrous herb, about four feet high. 
Stems erect, pale green, often thickened above the nodes. 
June Ist, 1904. 
