The iconic blue flower of the Western Ghats, neelakurinji, blooms once in 12 years. However, the Strobilanthes family of neelakurinji (Strobilanthes Kunthiana) also has 'cousins' who appear less frequently, adding to Western Ghat's diversity. Kalkurinji or Strobilanthes folos, which blooms only once in 16 years, has flowered in certain areas of Munnar. As compared to neelakurinji, kalkurinji's shrub grows on rocks and thus the name ('kal' means stone or rock in Malayalam). Its plants are also smaller as compared to those of the bushy neelakurinji.
Where to spot kalkurinji?
You could enjoy the beauty of kalkurinji flower at the Eravikulam National Park, Kannimala and on the sides of the national highway between Old Munnar Headworks Dam and Pallivasal. Tourists who visit Eravikulam National Park can glimpse the blossoms in a small area near the waterfall next to its tourist centre. Tourists cannot access the spot, but you can catch a good glimpse of the flower when the visitor shuttle stops in the region during guided tours.
Western Ghats, the family of Strobilanthes
The Western Ghats region in Kerala has around 64 varieties of the Strobilanthes plant. All the plants in this family flower only once in a long period. Interestingly, some species flower just once in 35 years, according to experts. The plant dies after a cycle of flowering and seed dispersal. Botanists say that if kurinji flowers are present in a region, it indicates its environmental health; therefore, their conservation is essential to preserve nature.