An unfortunate resemblance: Why conservation evades the depleting Mettukurinji of Western Ghats

Sub: Env

Sec: Species in news

Discovery of Mettukurinji in Idukki:

A news story about a rare blooming event in Kerala’s Idukki region captivated social media, attracting tourists to see the stunning purple flowers.
While the area is known for Neelakurinji, it was the lesser-known Mettukurinji (Strobilanthes sessilis) that caught attention, displaying similar purple hues.
Mettukurinji (also called Topli karvy), endemic to the Western Ghats, is part of the Acanthaceae family, with 450 species native to wet tropical biomes of Asia and Madagascar.
India is the hotspot for the highest diversity of Strobilanthes accommodating over 160 species of which 72 are endemic to Sahyadris.

Aspect	Details
Common Name	Mettukurinji (Topli karvy)
Scientific Name	Strobilanthes sessilis
Family	Acanthaceae
Endemic Region	Western Ghats, India
Visual Appearance	Similar to Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) with purple/lilac flowers
Differentiating Features	Absence of leaf stalks Flowers arranged in spikes Flaring petals
Blooming Cycle	Every 7 years
Habitat	Steep cliffs and plateaus of northern Western Ghats, 800 meters above sea level
Related Species	Strobilanthes kunthiana (Neelakurinji), blooms every 14 years in southern Western Ghats
Environmental Significance	Helps prevent soil erosion Maintains stability of hilly terrains
Threats	Climate change (floods, landslides) Human activities (flower picking)
Pharmacological Use	Anti-inflammatory properties Potential antifungal properties Contains endo fenchyl acetate, a significant flavoring agent for cosmetics
Conservation Status	Less studied compared to Neelakurinji Requires more research and conservation efforts
Challenges	Ecological asynchrony due to climate change Misinterpretation and undervaluation

For details of Neelakurinji

Source: DTE