Impatiens bracteata Colebr. in Roxb., Fl. Ind. 2: 458. 1824; Hook. f. in Rec. Bot. Surv. India 4: 12. 1905. I. fimbriata Hook., Exot. Fl. 2. t. 146. 1825; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 1: 461. 1874.

Herbs, up to 75 cm high; stems simple or branched. Leaves opposite or alternate, rarely elliptic to elliptic-oblong or occasionally ovate-lanceolate, abruptly cuneate at base, acuminate at apex, serrulate along margins with lower teeth filiform and each upper teeth terminating in a short apiculum, 3.5 - 15 x 1.5 - 5 cm, young leaves reddish; petiole 2 - 7.5 cm long. Inflorescence a terminal, subcapitate, crowded raceme; peduncles up to 9 cm long. Flowers ca 3 cm across, violet or pink; pedicels capillary, 0.8 - 2 cm long, often concealed by bracts; bracts persistent, recurved, linear, 0.5 - 1.2 cm long, prominently pink-ciliate on margins, pale green, recurved. Lateral sepals small, lanceolate. Lip boat-shaped, mouth 5 - 7 mm with an appendage, yellow with red streaks; spur gradually constrictd and tapering, filiform, incurved, up to 3 cm long, with pink striations. Standard ovate, ca 4 x 5 mm long, dark-pink. Wings ca 1.5 x 0.75 cm; basal lobes triangular, ca 3 mm long, reddish streaks present; distal lobes broadly elliptic to kidney-shaped, with a slight emargination distally along inner margin, entire, 10 - 12 x 7 - 8 mm; dorsal auricle small, rounded. Capsules turgid in middle, narrowed at both ends, ca 1 cm long; seeds few, obovate, white hairy.

Fl. & Fr. May - Nov.

Distrib. India: W. Bengal, Sikkim, Assam and Meghalaya.

Bhutan.

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