4856.000 Impatiens L.

Herbs, terrestrial, sometimes epiphytic; annuals, perennials or suffrutescent perennials; stems succulent, rarely woody below, erect or procumbent, often rooting at lower nodes, occasionally acaulescent. Leaves spirally arranged, opposite or in verticils. Inflorescence of racemes or fascicles or solitary flowers, axillary. Flowers with lateral sepals 2, lower sepal with spur; petals 5 the 4 lateral ones united into pairs. Fruit a capsule, elastically dehiscent. Seeds many.

Worldwide: >1,000 species in tropical and sub-tropical montane regions.

Caprivi: 16 cultivated taxa.