1837.] 



On the Genus Impatiens. 



13 



fronds of ferns : these I have not introduced into the character owing 

 to their not being constant, though of frequent occurrence. 



§ 5. Leaves radical, scape racemose. 

 13. Impatiens modesla. (R. W.) 

 Leaves few, radical, broadly cordate, ovate or suborbicular, hairy 

 above, glabrous, and pale shining glaucous beneath. Scape erect, 

 racemose, many flowered ; flowers small, rather long pedicelled, from 

 the axil of a small subulate bractea. Upper sepal, broad, obovate ; the 

 lateral ones, subulate, incumbent on the upper ; lower, shorter than the 

 petals, with a short straight, obtuse spur. Petals declining, 3 lobed, 

 (lower petal 2 cleft, upper entire) hairy near the attachment. Capsiile, 

 glabrous, ovate. 



Hab. Shevagerry on the highest part of the hills, in wet moss on the 

 trunks of trees and large stones ; flowering in August. 



This beautiful and modestly retiring species, I found in great abun- 

 dance in the thickest jungles, quite covering the stems of trees and 

 stones, covered with moss. The colour of the flowers is pale pink, but 

 owing to the dark ground against which it grows and the quantities 

 congregated together, becomes very conspicuous. The whole height of 

 the plants rarely exceeds from 8 to 12 inches, and the leaves from an 

 inch and half to two inches in their longest diameter ; the number of 

 flowers varies from about 10 to 20 or more. They have an unusual ap- 

 pearance, from the approximation and downward direction of the petals, 

 causing th,em, till closely examined, to resemble a single petal, simu- 

 lating in a remarkable manner, the flowers and lip of some of the 

 Orchidece. 



14. Impatiens rivalis. (R. W.) 



Herbaceous ; root tuberous. Leaves all radical, ovate oblong, some- 

 what oblique at the base, with remote, incurved bristle serratures, hairy 

 above, glabrous, pale shining green below. Scape racemose, many 

 flowered. Flowers large, pedicelled, from the axils of small pointed 

 fleshy bracteas. Upper sepal obtuse, gibbous above, forming an arch 

 over the column ; lateral ones minute ; lower, large ovate, ending in a 

 slender, tapering, spur, nearly twice the length of the petals. Petals 

 large, spreading, the lower lobe two cleft. Capsule, erect, glabrous, 

 many seeded j seeds hispid. 



Hab. Courtallum, in clefts of rock in streams, where exposed to the 

 spray of water dashing around them. 



This very beautiful species is found growing in clumps, and produc- 

 ing abundance of large pale pink flowers. I first met with it on the 

 rocks, at what is called £ Five Falls,' in a situation almost inaccessible, 



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