Impatiens niamniamensis

Last updated

Impatiens niamniamensis
Impatiens niamniamensis 'African King,' Phipps Conservatory, 2015-10-24, 03.jpg
Cultivar 'African King' in Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Balsaminaceae
Genus: Impatiens
Species:
I. niamniamensis
Binomial name
Impatiens niamniamensis
Synonyms [1]
  • Impatiens bicolorHook.f.
  • Impatiens bicolor var. brevifoliaWarb.
  • Impatiens dichroaHook.f. ex Gilg
  • Impatiens myrianthaGilg
  • Impatiens violaceopilosulaDe Wild.

Impatiens niamniamensis, common name Congo cockatoo, parrot impatiens or simply parrot plant, is a species of flowering plant in the family Balsaminaceae.

Contents

Description

Impatiens niamniamensis grows about 60–90 centimetres (24–35 in) long. This evergreen, perennial species has an erect, succulent, brown stem resembling wood. Leaves are simple, ovate-oblong or elliptical, spirally arranged, about 10 cm long.

This plant produces bright and colourful bird-shaped flowers (hence the common names Congo cockatoo and parrot plant) with a long, curled nectar spur. These unusual flowers vary in colour and size, but those of the clone most common in cultivation in Europe and America ('African Princess') are usually scarlet red and yellow and can reach a length of about 3.5 centimetres (1.4 in). Fruits are explosive capsules of about 14–16 mm.

Close-up on a flower of Impatiens niamniamensis Balsaminaceae - Impatiens niamniamensis.JPG
Close-up on a flower of Impatiens niamniamensis

Etymology

The epithet niamniamensis comes from the onomatopoeic name Niam-Niam which is sometimes used for the Azande people who live in the south-eastern part of the Central African Republic. [2]

Distribution and habitat

Impatiens niamniamensis comes from tropical Africa. It can be found from Cameroon throughout tropical Africa, up to Sudan and down to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [1] It grows in moist and shaded bushlands, at an elevation of 350–2,400 metres (1,150–7,870 ft) above sea level.

Cultivation

This plant is widely cultivated. In temperate zones it requires protection from temperatures below 10 °C (50 °F). It needs a sheltered position in a partially shaded spot. Impatiens niamniamensis has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Justicia brandegeeana</i> Species of shrub

Justicia brandegeeana, the Mexican shrimp plant, shrimp plant or false hop, is an evergreen shrub in the genus Justicia of the acanthus family Acanthaceae, native to Mexico, and also naturalized in Florida.

<i>Impatiens</i> Genus of flowering plants

Impatiens is a genus of more than 1,000 species of flowering plants, widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere and the tropics. Together with the genus Hydrocera, Impatiens make up the family Balsaminaceae.

<i>Celosia argentea</i> Species of edible flowering plant

Celosia argentea, commonly known as the plumed cockscomb or silver cock's comb, is a herbaceous plant of tropical origin in the Amaranthaceae family from India and Nepal. The plant is known for its very bright colors. In India and China it is known as a troublesome weed.

<i>Asarum europaeum</i> Species of flowering plant

Asarum europaeum, commonly known as asarabacca, European wild ginger, hazelwort, and wild spikenard, is a species of flowering plant in the birthwort family Aristolochiaceae, native to large parts of temperate Europe, and also cultivated in gardens. It is a creeping evergreen perennial with glossy green, kidney shaped leaves and solitary dull purple flowers hidden by the leaves. Though its roots have a ginger aroma, it is not closely related to the true culinary ginger Zingiber officinale, which originates in tropical Asian rainforests. It is sometimes harvested for use as a spice or a flavoring. In former days, it was used in snuff and also medicinally as an emetic and cathartic.

<i>Centaurea montana</i> Species of plant

Centaurea montana, the perennial cornflower, mountain cornflower, bachelor's button, montane knapweed or mountain bluet, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, endemic to Europe. It is widespread and common in the more southerly mountain ranges of Europe, but is rarer in the north. It escapes from gardens readily, and has thereby become established in the British Isles, Scandinavia and North America. This plant has become an invasive species in British Columbia, Canada. Centaurea montana grows in meadows and open woodland in the upper montane and sub-alpine zones, in basic areas. It grows to 30–70 centimetres (12–28 in) tall, and flowers mainly from May to August.

<i>Ceropegia woodii</i> Species of plant

Ceropegia woodii is a flowering plant in the dogbane family Apocynaceae, native to South Africa, Eswatini and Zimbabwe. It is sometimes treated as a subspecies of the related Ceropegia linearis, as C. linearis subsp. woodii. Common names include chain of hearts, collar of hearts, string of hearts, rosary vine, hearts-on-a-string, and sweetheart vine.

<i>Kigelia</i> Genus of trees

Kigelia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Bignoniaceae. The genus consists of only one species, Kigelia africana, which occurs throughout tropical Africa. The so-called sausage tree grows a poisonous fruit that is up to 60 cm long, weighs about 7 kg, and resembles a sausage in a casing.

<i>Tecomaria capensis</i> Species of flowering plant

Tecomaria capensis, the Cape honeysuckle, is a species of flowering plant in the family Bignoniaceae, native to southern Africa. Despite its common name, it is not closely related to the true honeysuckle.

<i>Impatiens psittacina</i> Species of flowering plant

Impatiens psittacina, known variously as the "parrot flower" or "parrot balsam" is a species of balsam from Southeast Asia that was described by the botanist Joseph Dalton Hooker and was noted for its flower that resemble a "flying cockatoo". It is known from Thailand, Burma and parts of India.

<i>Verbena bonariensis</i> Species of flowering plant

Verbena bonariensis, the purpletop vervain, clustertop vervain, Argentinian vervain, tall verbena or pretty verbena, is a member of the verbena family cultivated as a flowering annual or herbaceous perennial plant. In USA horticulture, it is also known by the ambiguous names purpletop and South American vervain. For the misapplication "Brazilian verbena" see below.

<i>Impatiens balfourii</i> Species of orchid

Impatiens balfourii is a species of the genus Impatiens known by the common names Balfour's touch-me-not, Kashmir balsam, and poor man's orchid. It belongs to the family Balsaminaceae.

<i>Impatiens sodenii</i> Species of flowering plant

Impatiens sodenii is a species of flowering plant in the family Balsaminaceae known by the common names poor man's rhododendron, Oliver's touch-me-not, and shrub balsam. It is native to Kenya and Tanzania, and widely cultivated as an ornamental plant.

Pycnobotrya is a monotypic genus of plant in the family Apocynaceae found in tropical Africa. As of August 2013 the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families recognises the single species Pycnobotrya nitida.

<i>Crassula ovata</i> Species of succulent

Crassula ovata, commonly known as jade plant, lucky plant, money plant or money tree, is a succulent plant with small pink or white flowers that is native to the KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa, and Mozambique; it is common as a houseplant worldwide. Much of its popularity stems from the low levels of care needed; the jade plant requires little water and can survive in most indoor conditions. It is sometimes referred to as the money tree; however, Pachira aquatica also has this nickname.

<i>Spiranthes odorata</i> Species of orchid

Spiranthes odorata, marsh lady's tresses or common lady's tresses, is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family, native to the southeastern United States, from Texas eastwards and northwards to Delaware. It grows in moist, partially shaded environments with acidic or neutral soil.

Barteria fistulosa is a species of tree in the family Passifloraceae, native to tropical Central Africa. The tree has an association with an aggressive species of ant with a very painful sting, which lives in its hollow branches and twigs, and gives rise to its common name of "ant tree".

<i>Impatiens pseudoviola</i> Species of plant in the genus Impatiens

Impatiens pseudoviola, commonly known as the jewelweed and touch me not, is a species of flowering plant in the family Balsaminaceae, native to Kenya and Tanzania.

<i>Aglaonema costatum</i> Species of plant in the genus Aglaonema

Aglaonema costatum, called the spotted evergreen, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Aglaonema, native to Bangladesh, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. In these areas, the plant is typically found growing in the understory of tropical rain forests. Its putative form, Aglaonema costatum f. immaculatum, called the unspotted Chinese evergreen, has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

<i>Dracaena surculosa</i> Species of flowering plant

Dracaena surculosa, called the gold dust dracaena and spotted dracaena, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to west and west-central tropical Africa, from Guinea to the Republic of the Congo. Its cultivar 'Florida Beauty' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

<i>Impatiens tinctoria</i> Species of flowering plant

Impatiens tinctoria, the dyers busy lizzie, is a species of flowering plant in the balsam family Balsaminaceae, native to tropical Africa.

References

  1. 1 2 "Impatiens niamniamensis Gilg", Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2020-07-03
  2. "NParks | Impatiens niamniamensis". www.nparks.gov.sg. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  3. "Impatiens niamniamensis". www.rhs.org. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 21 September 2020.