1837.] 



On the Genus Impatient. 



3 



sepal, which is that which is spurred, is between two petals and oppo- 

 site a stamen." . It is only necessary to add, that the correctness of the 

 deductions obtained from tlj>,is most masterly analysis of the flower of 

 the common Balsam, is now completely proved by the structure of the 

 genus Hydrocera, the only other genus of the order, which enjoys the 

 full compliment of parts, namely, five sepals, five petals, five stamens 

 and five stigmas, with a truly five-celled fruit, not like Impaliens opening 

 with elasticity. 



I have thought it necessary to introduce this explanation of the 

 structure of the flower of Impatiens, partly with the view of exhibiting 

 an excellent example of botanical analysis, but principally, to enable 

 such of my readers as may not have had an opportunity of becoming 

 acquainted with it, more readily to accompany me, when perusing the 

 following descriptions,, I do not, however, intend to adopt the language 

 which it points out as strictly correct, but shall continue to employ 

 nearly the same terms as those used in my Prodromus, in which the 

 two united petaloid sepals are called the posterior or upper sepal ; the 

 lower one, the spur, in all cases where that organ is so much developed, 

 as to leave no evident foliaceous portion, as is the case in nearly all 

 the following species. The united pairs of petals are considered sin- 

 gle two-lobed ones, and the lobes indicated by the terms upper and lower. 

 As it is from the relative sizes of these parts that the best specific 

 marks are obtained, and as they will be found introduced into the 

 character of each species, I have been thus particular in explaining the 

 names under which they appear. So numerous, indeed, and at the same 

 time so constant, are the variations in form, which these parts assume in 

 different species, that, with the exception of those taken from the gene- 

 ral habit of the plants, no other part need be mentioned in characteriz- 

 ing them. But as most of those now known, are taken up from dried 

 specimens, in which it is always difficult, and often impossible, to make 

 out the characters of the flower, I have added all those procurable 

 from other parts of the plant, as the only inconvenience attendant on 

 their introduction is, the length to which the definitions are thereby ex- 

 tended ; a fault, which is more than compensated by the facility of 

 correctly discriminating species in such a large and daily increasing 

 genus ; and„by affording those who may possess dried specimens, the 

 means of referring them to their proper species. 



It is a curious, and to me an inexplicable fact, that a genus so strik- 

 ingly Indian, and associating such a host of species, should have been 

 so little known to Roxburgh. He only describes three in his Flora, 

 though I am sure I speak within bounds, when I assert that the coun- 

 tries, whence he derived the materials for his- work, will be found to 

 present an assemblage of not fewer than one hundred species. It is no 

 doubt an eminently alpine genus, delighting in a cool and moist climate j 



