Description: Herbs, rarely woody at base.
Leaves alternate, margins crenate to deeply toothed.
Flowers axillary towards the ends of branches, peduncles 1 to few-flowered. Sepals 3, lateral sepals usually green and small, lowest one large, petaloid and spurred. Petals 5, upper one exterior and partly sepaloid, 4 others in 2 ± fused lateral pairs.
Capsule explosively dehiscent.
Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 600 species, tropical & subtropical regions. Australia: 1 species (naturalized).
Text by S. M. Hastings
Taxon concept:
Taxa not yet included in identification key
Impatiens balfouri
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Leaves in whorls of 3; flowers white or pink | Impatiens sodenii |
| Leaves alternate (rarely a few opposite); flowers either pink and white or variously coloured | 2 |
| 2 | Bushy perennial; flower face flat, with a long slender spur | Impatiens walleriana |
| Annual, flowers pouched, the short spur no longer than the lower sepal
Back to 1 | Impatiens balfourii |
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