Himachal Balsam is an annual, hairless herb with
white and pink stalked flowers with yellow throat, 1.2-3.2 cm long with
spur. It is somewhat similar to
White-Pink Balsam. Lateral sepals
are ovate, slightly curved on one side, with few appendages along
margins, about 3 x 2 mm. Lip is shallowly boat-shaped, 0.6-1.5 cm long,
spurred; spur abruptly constricted, thread-like, curved, 0.5-2.5 cm.
Standard is inverted-heart-shaped to nearly round, blunt, about 6 x 4
mm. Wings are bilobed; basal lobes ovate, about 1.1 x 0.3 cm; distal
lobes broadly oblong. Flower-cluster-stalks are slender, 0.5-12 cm
long, hairless; flower-stalks 0.9-1.8 cm, hairless. Leaves are
alternate or opposite, elliptic ovate to lanceshaped, gradually
narrowed towards base, pointed to long-tapering at tip, shallowly
rounded toothed to toothed along margins with lower teeth thread-like,
gland-tipped. Leaves are finely velvet-hairy on both surfaces; lateral
nerves 4-10 pairs; leaf-stalks 0.8-3.2 cm, hairless. Capsules are
linear, pointed, 0.3 - 1.2 cm Himachal Balsam is found in N. Pakistan
to W. Himalayas, at altitudes of 1500-3200 m. Flowering: June-August.
Identification credit: Tabish
Photographed on Dharamsala-Triund route, Himachal Pradesh.
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The flower labeled Himachal Balsam is ...