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12-Year Wait Over: Neelakurinji Flowers Blanket Munnar Hills
9 Sep
Summary
- Rare Neelakurinji flowers are blooming across Munnar hills after 12 years.
- Different populations have separate flowering cycles, not an early bloom.
- Habitat threats endanger this once-vulnerable species, highlighting conservation needs.
The rare Neelakurinji flowers have reappeared in the hills of Munnar, Kerala, after a nearly 12-year absence. Vast clusters are currently blooming across the Korandakadu and Chokramudi areas, transforming parts of the Western Ghats.
This spectacular natural event is due to the plant's unusual 12-year flowering cycle, known as gregarious flowering. Different populations of Neelakurinji follow separate schedules. The current bloom in Chokramudi and Mattupetty, which last flowered in 2014, is not an early occurrence.
Another notable population, located in Eravikulam National Park, is expected to bloom around 2030, having last flowered in 2018. These distinct cycles explain the differing timelines for these natural spectacles.
However, the future of the Neelakurinji is uncertain due to habitat loss. Factors like plantation expansion, urbanization, invasive species, and tourism pressure threaten its high-altitude ecosystem. This has led to Strobilanthes kunthiana being assessed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
