Taxonomic Monograph on Impatiens L. (Balsaminaceae) of Western Ghats, South India: The Key Genus for Endemism by V. Bhaskar

2012·0.41 MB·

by  Review By: S N Yoganarasimhan

315
BOOK
REVIEWS
Bhaskar, 2012. Taxonomic Monograph on Impatiens L. (Balsaminaceae) of Western Ghats, South
V. V.
The Key Genus Endemism. Taxonomic
India: for (ISBN: 978-935067-257-0, pbk.). Centre for Plant
-
Studies, ‘Udayaravi’, 2nd Main Road, Cholanagar, R.T. Nagar P.O., Bangalore 560 032, INDIA. (Orders:
4
[email protected]). $200.00, 283 tables, 173 plates.
pp.,
The members of the genus Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) are popularly called balsams or jewel weeds. They are
and
also referred to as ‘orchid flowers’ as their flowers resemble those of orchids. Several species their hybrids
demand
are grown as prized ornamentals and are in great throughout the world because of their vivid colors.
monumental
Taxonomically, the genus encompasses very difficult groups of plants to classify. After his publi-
cation The Flora British India, Sir Hooker returned to work on Impatiens because he found tremendous
of J.D.
diversity in this genus. The work classified approximately one hundred and twenty-three species of Impatiens.
However, the author was unsatisfied with his treatment and a number of open ends for which he could not
left
This taxonomic monograph on Impatiens of Western Ghats provides a comprehensive treatment of 106
species and 13 varieties occurring in the richly biodiverse Western Ghats region. Fifteen new species and six
new varieties described by the author himself are included. Taxonomic key for identification is provided to
&
seven sections (formed by Hooker Thomson 1860) with separate identification keys for species under each
The which was synonymised under by
section. author has resurrected bababudenensis Hook.f. I. latifolia J.S.
I.
Gamble. This seems quite logical as the former has n=6 and the latter has n=3 chromosome numbers, apart
from other morphological differences between the two. Similarly, I.fasciculata (Lam.) has been resurrected as
an independent species, and chinensis var. brevicomis Barnes has been elevated to specific level.
1.
These
The most useful information provided by the author is the micro-morphological characters. in-
clude various kinds of banding pattern of testa indumenta in brown-seeded species, pollen morphological
characters, chromosome numbers for a majority of species, and, in a few cases, embryo sac type and anatomi-
A
summary on chromosome numbers and pollen morphological characters
cal characters. consolidated the
reported by the author as well as other authors is also provided. The plate(s) provided for each of the species
which one imme-
depicts photos of both morphological and micro-morphological characters readily help to
The provided
diately capture the striking characteristics of the species. display of dissected floral parts, for
A
much on
most of the species, another important aspect which was very required for this genus. case study
is
how
-
autecology of Impatiens acaulis scapiflora complex has been well presented, clearly showing the plant
1,
populations vary greatly from population to population, especially with regard to leaf morphology, flower
should only be
spur and wing The author rightly recognizes that stable qualitative traits
color, length, petals.
new
considered while describing species.
There handy information on the range of distribution of each species in the Western Ghats as well as
is
the names of species collected from each of the hill ranges in the region. The author has ably attempted to
He
Western
discuss endemism and and also origin and evolution of Impatiens of Ghats. believes
affinities,
chromosomes
chromosome numbers of 2n=6 or n=3 and larger as in the case of
that the occurrence of lower I.
chromosome number
and occurring in the Nilgiris Mountains and the second lowest of
leschenaultii
latifolia
I.
Western
2n=12 or n=6 as in the case of pulcherrima, and bababudenensis in the northern part of
talbotii,
I. I. I.
Ghats, is clear proof of the primitiveness of Western Ghats species. The author has tried to correlate the type of
seed: homy seed and brown seeded seeds with testa indumenta, with endemicity and distribution of Impatiens
species in Western Ghats. However, he finds no impact as the extent of endemism between these two catego-
ries of species more or less the same.
is
Finally, the author has categorized the species of Impatiens reported in Western Ghats according to their
threat status. He believes that 7 species are possibly extinct, 40 species fall under the category of critically
2012
st Texas 315.
6(1):
Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas
6(1)
316
These
endangered, and 16 are under vulnerable status. conclusions
endangered, 33 under the category of
balsam growing
measures protect natural habitats.
warrant immediately undertaking stringent to It
certainly
programs prevent extinction of endangered species. An-
to
undertake species rehabilitation
also essential to
is
low
work, apart from the other original material, is the simple cost tech-
important contribution in this
other
wild balsams in the greenhouse.
which author has developed to cultivate
nique of ‘drip and splash method’ the
grow balsams with ease for either research or ex-situ conservation.
This will definitely help to practically all
when compared conventional
and to taxo-
This work deviates in the presentation of text illustrations
work way break mo-
structured his this in order to the
nomic monographs; perhaps the author intentionally
make would have been better the author had followed the latest and standard
notony and user friendly. It if
it
sending the manuscript to press, since
nomenclatural norms and carried out better editing of the text before
ample scope improve the running text as well as
book. However, there to
found sporadically in the is
lapses are
to reduce the size of the book by printing plates back to back in the next edition.
work on
commendable and has produced an excellent piece of
author has done a job
Nevertheless, the
am monograph needed the gen-
Western Ghats. strongly of the opinion that this type of is for all
Impatiens of
I
who up monographic work on
would take
model taxonomists like to
Indeed, the author has set a for future
era.
am as well as emphasizing the im-
in correct identification
various groups of plants. sure will greatly assist
1 it
monograph-
supplementary in future
micro-morphological characters as traits
portance of using various other
many
and
indi-
works. Though the book priced on a no loss no profit basis, still the price is prohibitive
is
ic
book engaged
viduals could not afford to own this book. However, it will be a good reference in institutions
amount work
particularly in taxonomic research. On the whole, no monetary value can compensate for the of
monograph.
and passion that has gone into this valuable
—
S.N. Yoganarasimhan, Ph.D., FBS, F1AAT, Retired Head, Medicinal Plants Division,
Bangalore.
Regional Research Centre (Ay), Govt, of India,
&
Pharmacognosy, M.S.
Dept,
Research Co-coordinator, of
Presently Visiting Professor
[email protected]
INDIA, Email:
Ramaiah Pharmacy, Bangalore 560058,
College
of
978-1-4269-5382-
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P.
Indiana,
Bloomington,
8 Print-On-Demand). Trafford Publishing Co., 1663 Liberty Drive,
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(sc)
b/w
426
www.juniperus.org, 1-888-232-4444). $29.95, pp.,
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