Taxonomic Monograph on Impatiens L. (Balsaminaceae) of Western Ghats, South India

This taxonomic monograph on Impatiens L. (Balsaminaceae) of Western Ghats, Peninsular India is a comprehensive treatment of a most difficult genus to classify. This book is the outcome of author's long standing scientific enquiry on the genus for over 35 years. The present book provides a taxonomic treatment of 106 species and 13 infra-specific taxa including 12 additional new species and 6 new varieties from Western Ghats. The elaborate key provided under each section is valuable to all other workers on the genus and will be basis for any other attempts at revision by future authors. Taxonomic Monograph on Impatiens L. (Balsaminaceae) of Western Ghats, South India also provides useful information on pollen and seed morphological characters, chromosome numbers, embryo sac type and special anatomical characters, if any, which are shown to be reliable tool for correct identification of species in Impatiens. This kind of taxonomic treatment based on both macro- and micro-morphological characters was very much required in this genus which the author has successfully fulfilled. Taxonomic Monograph on Impatiens L. (Balsaminaceae) of Western Ghats, South India contains over 170 colour plates, each plate is dedicated to one species comprising both macro- and micro-morphological characters such as habit, dissected flower parts, fruits, seeds, seed hair morphology, pollen morphology, chromosome numbers and in some cases anatomical and embryo sac types. The chromosome numbers have been reported for 76 species, including satellite taxa of which 37 are fresh counts and chromosome numbers of 25 species are first reports. Nearly 95 species have been palynologically analysed, out of which pollen morphology of 88 species is done exclusively by the author including 21 first reports. Very interesting seed hair morphological characters which have great taxonomic value in classifying Impatiens have been reported for the first time in most of the brown seeded species in the Sections, "Scapigerae", "Microsepalae", "Tomentosae", "Sub-umbellatae" and "Racemosae". A taxonomic note under each species makes an interesting reading on its inter-relationships. The Western Ghats has long been recognized as the most astounding natural biodiversity hot spot with a highly varied and archaic flora. The author has categorized Impatiens species in Western Ghats for their Threat Status as per IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Out of 106 species of Impatiens in Western Ghats, 103 species are endemic to peninsular India, about 37 species (including varieties) fall under the category of Critically Endangered, about 36 species under the category of Endangered and 17 species under the Vulnerable status. Urgent measures are suggested to protect their habitats in Western Ghats.