Neelakurinji

Subject: Geography

Context:

The mass blooming of the Strobilantheskunthiana, known commonly as the neelakurinji, gave the Nilgiris (the blue mountains) its iconic name as the slopes were covered once in 12 years by the mass blooming of the shrub.
For some tribals, who were the first settlers of Kodaikanal, the bloom helped them to calculate their age — with every bloom 12 years was added to their age.
However, blooming seasons have become unpredictable over the years due to changing weather patterns
These flowers grow at an altitude of 1,300 to 2,400 meters
The peak blooming season is between August and October
Recently, the blooming of the Strobilanthesfoliosa has been reported in parts of the Nilgiris.
There is prevalence of invasive species that have come to populate the habitats of the native Strobilanthes plants.
While the habitat of the Strobilanthes plants in the upper Nilgiris is being eroded by the Cestrum aurantiacum, they are threatened by other invasive species like Lantana camara in the lower