PM Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day speech, mentioned the blooming of Neelakurinji flowers in the Nilgiri hills, a phenomenon that occurs once every 12 years.
About:
Scientific Name: Strobilanthes kunthianus.
Common Names: Neelakurinji; Kurinji.
Distribution:
It is a shrub prominently found in the shola forests of the Western Ghats.
Besides it is also seen in the Shevroys in the Eastern Ghats.
Blooming period: The blue flowers of Neelakurinji blossoms only once in 12 years.
Conservation: Core area of Kurinjimala Sanctuary, in Idukki district of Kerala, protects the kurinji.
Cultural significance:
Nilgiri Hills (Literally meaning the blue mountains), got their name from the blue flowers of Neelakurinji.
The Paliyan tribes (in Tamil Nadu) use it as a reference to calculate their age.
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