Neelakurinji is a shrub found along the Western Ghats in the Shola forests in South India. Its peculiarity is that it blooms only once in twelve years. It has also given the name Nilgiris to the mountains of the region owing to its blue colour.
This topic forms an important part of the Environment and Biodiversity section for the IAS Exam.
Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kuthianus)
Neelakurinji belongs to the family “Acanthaceae” and genus “Strobilanthes”. The Nilgiri Range in Munnar, Kerala serves as a blooming ground for this rare species.
- Kurinji usually grows at an elevation of 1300 – 2400 m and height varies between 30 – 60 cm.
- Neelakurinji takes 12 years to grow and bloom gregariously. Such plants with unusual blooming cycles with long intervals are called plietesials.
- The beautiful panorama was last seen in 2018 from Munnar’s Kovilur, Kadavari, Rajamala, and Eravikulam National Parks. It will be next seen in 2030.
- The flowers are purple-blue in colour.
- Other kurinji species (Strobilanthes cuspadatus) blooms once every 7 years and then subsequently wilts and dies. Each species of kurinji takes a different time to mature.
- All species belonging to the genus Strobilanthes have unusual flowering patterns ranging from annual blooming cycles to the longest with 16 years.
Neelakurinji Habitat
Besides the Western Ghats, Neelakurinji is also seen in the Shevroys in the Eastern Ghats, in the Annamalai hills of Idukki district and Agali hills of Palakkad in Kerala and Sandur hills of Bellary district in Karnataka. In 2021, Neelakurinji flowers were seen blooming in the hills of Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve, Chamarajanagar District, Karnataka.
Some facts about Neelakurinji Flowers
- There are about 250 kurinji species in the world.
- In India, there are around 46 different kurinji species and most of them grow in the Western Ghats.
- Neelakurinji means “blue flower” in Malayalam.
- The name Neelakurinji is believed to be inspired by the Kunthi river that flows through the Silent Valley National Park in Kerala.
- Nilgiri mountains got its name from the Neelakurinji flowers (Nilgiri – Blue Mountains).
- Kurinji honey – It is called liquid gold for its value.
- The Paliyan tribe in Tamil Nadu used the Neelakurinji flower as a reference to calculate their age.
Conservation of Kurinji
- Kurinjimala Sanctuary in Vallavada and Kottakamboor villages in the Idukki district protects the Kurinji. The sanctuary covers 32 square kilometres, and runs campaigns and events to raise awareness about ecosystem conservation.
- Kurinji Andavar Temple located in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu dedicated to God Murugan also preserves these plants.
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