Wild Balsams

Subject – Environment

Context – Kerala researchers identify three new species in the Western Ghats region and Idukki district.

Concept –

Researchers have identified three new species of wild balsam in Kerala, of which two have been named after Communist veteran and former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and the former Health Minister, K.K. Shailaja.
The species, belonging to the genus Impatiens (family Balsaminaceae), were spotted in the Western Ghatsregion of southern Kerala and the Idukki district during surveys.
Plants of this genus are popular as ‘Kashithumba’ in Malayalam.