Why in news?
According to a study published by the Botanical Survey of India, 23 new species of Balsams have been discovered from the eastern Himalayas.
What are these?
- Between 2010 and 2019, botanists and taxonomists working on Impatiens – a group of plants commonly known as Balsams or jewel-weeds discovered 23 new species.
- Consisting of both annual and perennial herbs, balsams are succulent plants with high endemism.
- Because of their bright beautiful flowers, these groups of plants are of prized horticultural significance.
- They are highly sensitive to climatic conditions like extreme drought and extended exposure to sunlight.
- They are typically confined to stream margins, moist roadsides, waterside boulders, near waterfalls and wet forests.
