Impatiens nilgirica C. Fischer in Bull. Misc. Inform. 1931: 41 - 42. f. A - C. 1931 & in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 1869. 1935.

Herbs, erect, acaulescent; bulbs small, globose. Leaves 1 - 2, radical, suborbicular, prominently cordate at base, lobes rounded, often imbricate, distantly apiculate-crenate along margins, 2.5 - 4 cm broad, fleshy; primary nerves 7 - 9, fan-shaped, obscure above, distinct below; petiole 3 - 9 cm long, purplish. Scapes 1 - 2, ca 20 cm long, 4 - 10-flowered, purplish; bracts broadly ovate or suborbicular, concave, ca 6 mm long; pedicels ca 1 cm long, longer in fruits, reflexed apex slightly cordate, ca 4 mm long. Lip ca 1 cm long, navicular, subacute; spur short, broadly obtuse. Wings 3-lobed, ca 2 cm long, base of lower two-lobed, pilose within; distal lobes broadly obovate, oblique, retuse, 5 - 6 mm long; middle lobe narrower, obovate-oblong, apex rounded, ca 8 mm long; basal lobes further narrower, often smaller, oblong, obtuse. Capsules ellipsoid, 1 - 2 cm long; seeds minute, ovate-obllong, compressed, glabrous.

Fl. & Fr. Sept.

Distrib. India: Rare, among grasses or on rocks at 2800 m altitude. Tamil Nadu.

Endemic to Nilgiris (Kundah Range) of W. Ghats.