Impatiens balsamina
Context:
- Three new wild balsam species reported from Kerala.
More about news:
- The three species are
- A plant with whitish-creamy flowers found in the Kallar forest, Thiruvananthapuram district, has been named Impatiens achudanandanii after Mr. Achuthanandan.
- A discovery from the Sankhili forest in south Kerala, christened Impatiens shailajae, honours Ms. Shailaja.
- Impatiens danii, spotted in Munnar, Idukki, is named after Mathew Dan, scientist and head, Plant Genetic Resource Division, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI), Thiruvananthapuram.
- Given their tiny populations, all three species can be classified as Critically Endangered (CE), applying the IUCN criteria.
- These are straggling, glabrous herb.
About Impatiens balsamina
- It is commonly known as balsam, is a species of plant native to India and Myanmar.
- Different parts of the plant are used as traditional remedies for disease and skin afflictions.
- Juice from the leaves is used to treat warts and snakebite, and the flower is applied to burns.
- This species has been used as indigenous traditional medicine in Asia for rheumatism, fractures, and other ailments.