Impatiens pendula B. Heyne ex Wight & Arn. (Balsaminaceae), Critically Endangered and Endemic Balsam of Western Ghats – A Need for Conservation

Impatiens L. are the most fascinating group of plants having ornamentally desirable flowers with varying colours and are often called ‘jewel weeds’ or ‘orchid balsams’. Majority of these are annual herbs and a few are perennials. In India, the species are mainly concentrated in two biodiversity hotspots, viz. the Himalaya in the north and the Western Ghats in the south. About 210 species of Impatiens have been reported from India, among which 106 are endemic to the Western Ghats. Karnataka has 41 species of which 19 are endemic.