Jangjeon balsam (Impatiens jangjeonense Balsaminaceae), a new species from mountains of South Korea

NEWS - Researchers from Chungbuk National University in Cheongju and the National Institute of Biological Resources in Incheon report Impatiens jangjeonense (Balsaminaceae) as a new species from the mountainous region of Gangwon-do Province in South Korea.

The new species inhabits mountainous habitats at elevations of 400–1200 meters and is often found in shaded valleys near streams. I. jangjeonense coexists with I. hambaeksanensis on Mount Hambaeksan, Gangwon-do. However, populations of both species are completely isolated from each other, making gene flow between the two species unlikely.

The genus Impatiens exhibits great variation in morphology. Flower color and morphology vary greatly, along with diverse capsule and seed shapes. In particular, a variety of organ colors, shapes, and sizes are observed within the same species or the same population. Partly because of this variability, the taxonomy of Impatiens has proven challenging.

I. jangjeonense is morphologically similar to I. hambaeksanensis with overlapping organ sizes and colors. However, the researchers were able to conclude that some morphological features of the new species are clearly distinguishable. Among the Korean Impatiens species, the spur tips are clearly bifurcated in I. jangjeonense and I. furcillata, while I. hambaeksanensis has slightly bifurcated spur tips.

The topography of the Korean Peninsula is characterized by high eastern mountains and lowland areas in the west. I. hambaeksanensis and I. jangjeonense are distributed in Baekdudaegan, but I. hambaeksanensis is limited to a smaller area with an elevation of 900-1200 meters, indicating that this endemic species is a relict.

The researchers hypothesize that this species originated a long time ago and lost many populations over time. The remaining populations may have successfully adapted to the temperature, rainfall and ecology of the high mountains. I. jangjeonense is distributed in a wider area with an elevation of 400-1200 meters.

Original research

Ami Oh, Byoung-Un Oh, Hyun Kyung Oh (2024). Impatiens jangjeonense (Balsaminaceae), a new species from South Korea. Phytotaxa 663 (5): 283-293 https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.663.5.3, DOI:10.11646/phytotaxa.663.5.3

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