Balsaminaceae (Balsam, Impatiens family)

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) >  Eudicotyledons >  Core Eudicots >  Asterids > Order: Ericales

Impatiens Impatiens sp. in garden in Knysna (Western Cape, South Africa).

Widespread in tropical and subtropical climates, but not native to South America or Australia. A total of 2 genera and about 850 species. Almost all the species are in the genus Impatiens. The other genus is Hydrocera with a single species, Hydrocera triflora, which has an indomalayan distribution. Flowers of this species are used in India to dye finger-nails.

Impatiens contains about 850 species, of which 4 are native to southern Africa. 

Publications

• Grey-Wilson, C. 1980. Impatiens of Africa. Balkema, Rotterdam.

• Launert, E. 1963. Balsaminaceae. Flora Zambesiaca 2: 162-180.