NEELAKURINJI

Oct. 23, 2018

Thousands of people thronged the hill stations in Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka to see the large-scale blossoming of the rare Neelakurinji flowers, but returned disappointed.

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.