NEELAKURINJI

April 7, 2019

Wildlife experts say the recent large-scale wildfires on the grasslands where Neelakurinji blossomed widely last year after a period of 12 years could have wiped out all the seeds of the endemic flowers from the area.

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.