Botanical name: Impatiens neomunronii    Family: Balsaminaceae (Balsam family)

Tamilnadu Balsam is a rare and recently described (2012) species of balsam. It is an annual, succulent herb, usually growing up to a modest height. The stems are soft, translucent, and often tinged with reddish or green hues. Leaves are simple, alternate, and ovate to elliptic, with serrated margins and a hairless or slightly hairy surface. As in other members of the genus Impatiens, the foliage is delicate and adapted to humid environments. The flowers are bilaterally symmetrical and quite showy, typically borne singly or in small clusters. They exhibit bright coloration - often shades of pink, purple, or white, with a characteristic spur formed from the lower sepal, which contains nectar. Petals are arranged in a distinctive pattern, with lateral united petals forming wing-like structures. The floral morphology suggests adaptation for pollination by insects, particularly bees. Fruits are elongated capsules that explode open. It is typically found in moist, shaded habitats such as forest understories, stream banks, or rocky slopes at mid to high elevations. It is endemic to the southern Western Ghats of India.

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The flower labeled Tamilnadu Balsam is ...