Question

The mass flowering of this plant transformed hilly areas in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamilnadu into blue stretches and attracted a large number of tourists in the months of September and October 2006. Identify the plant.

• A. Bamboo (Bambusa)
• B. Century Plant(Agave americana)
• C. Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana)
• D. Neel (Indigofera tinctoria)

Answer 1

The correct option is C

Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana)

Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) is a perennial monocarpic plant, found in the Western Ghats (especially the Nilgiris and Palani Hills) of India. They bear purplish blue flowers only once in 12 years and die. The latest large flowering event was in September - October 2006 but smaller flowering events that are localized to parts of the Western Ghats also occur.