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Species in News: Neelakurinji
Context:
The Neelakurinji is the iconic purplish-blue flowering shrub known for its rare blooming cycle, and has officially been classified as a threatened species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
About Neelakurinji:
- Scientific Name: Strobilanthes kunthiana
- Family: Acanthaceae
- Genus: Strobilanthes
- There are about 250 species of Strobilanthes worldwide, with 46 species found in India.
- Primary Locations: Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu), Munnar, Palani-Kodaikanal, Anamalai mountains.
- Height: Approximately three metres.
- Elevation Range: 1,340–2,600 metres.
- Blooming: Mass blooming imparts a purplish-blue colour to mountain grasslands. Synchronous blooming and fruiting occur every 12 years at the end of the plant’s life cycle.
- IUCN Status: Listed as Vulnerable (Criteria A2c) on the IUCN Red List.
- Habitat: Endemic to high-altitude shola grassland ecosystems in southwest India.
- The plant is a rich source of pharmacological constituents and can act as an herbal alternative for various disorders.
- Ecological Role: It plays a role in the local ecosystem by attracting bees, which use the nectar to produce a unique honey.
- Cultural Importance: In local traditions, particularly among indigenous tribes, the blooming of Neelakurinji is used to calculate age and mark significant events.
- Main threats: Nearly 40% of the habitat has been lost, and the remainder is now threatened by the encroachment of invasive species like eucalyptus and black wattle.
