Impatiens latiflora - Indian Angel Balsam

Indian Angel Balsam is a perennial herb that grows to about 1.5 ft tall and wide. Its big, lush leaves get 4-6 inches long. They are elliptic to elliptic-lanceshaped, toothed, long-pointed. They are hairless, except on the nerves beneath. Leaves are sometime narrowly lanceshaped. Flowers are borne in a 2-3-flowered clusters carried on stout, erect, 2-2.5 cm long stalk. Flowers are large, 2.5-5 cm across, pale rose or violet, carried on stout stalks. Sepals are pointed. Lateral lobes of wings are obovate. Terminal lobes of the wings are semi-ovate pointed. Upper petals is round, winged at the back. Lip is boat-shaped, and the spur slender, 2.0-4.5 cm long, pointed, curved inward. Fruits are 3-3.5 cm long, 1-1.2 cm in diameter, spindle-shaped, 5-lobed, green, hairless; fruiting-stalk 3.5-3.8 cm long. Indian Angel Balsam is found in the subtropical Himalayas, West Bengal, Khasia mountains, Sikkim and Bhutan, at altitudes of 1000-1500 m. It is now cultivated in Europe and America as a garden plant.