Mangaluru: Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana), famed for its 12-year bloom cycle in the Nilgiri Hills, now has a lesser-known cousin - Strobilanthes jomyi. The rare species, blooming after an eight-year cycle, is found in unprotected areas of Kerala and Karnataka. The team behind its discovery eight years ago has recorded this year's bloom and has urged authorities to safeguard the species.
The discovery occurred about eight years ago because of Rekha D, a botany teacher from Sri Annapurneswari Higher Secondary School, Agalpady, Kasaragod. She told TOI, "I first noticed the flower in 2016. Before that, we only saw the plant. I then reached out to a Botany lecturer and researcher, P Biju. It turned out that this plant had not been identified before."
"Biju was working under Prof Jomy Augustine, a researcher in the study of Strobilanthes species. In honour of Prof Jomy, his students decided to name this newly discovered species after him," she said.
After that bloom, there were no flowers for years. "The unique thing about this plant is that once it blooms, the plant dies, and its seeds must germinate to start the cycle anew. We feel fortunate to have seen the blooms both in 2016 and this year. Now, these flowers are thriving in Pandivayal, Adoor, about 80km from Mangaluru," she said.
P Biju, from the department of Botany, govt college, Kasaragod, said, "We are delighted to see the unique flower bloom again. It thrives in low-lying laterite areas and is found in Pandi village, near the Kerala-Karnataka border."
"These beautiful blue flowers are distinct from the Neelakurinji, with drooping blossoms that form in clusters of five to 15 spikes. Since identifying this species, we have spotted it in the Kanhangad area, with patches extending as far as Sakleshpur in Karnataka," he explained. The plant is expected to be in bloom from Oct to Dec.
Dr Jomy Augustine, from the National Institute of Plant Science and Technology at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, explained that around 70 species of Strobilanthes are found in the Western Ghats, though only a few, like the Neelakurinji, attract tourist interest. Most Strobilanthes species grow within protected areas or forests, but Strobilanthes jomyi is unique as it grows predominantly outside these protected regions.
"This new species has a small population, and unfortunately, it receives little attention for conservation. In many agricultural areas, farmers mistake it for a weed and remove it," Dr Jomy noted. He urged forest officials and conservationists to collect seeds this year and propagate the plant in botanical gardens and protected areas.
Shree Padre, editor of the Kannada agricultural magazine ‘Adike Patrike', expressed concern that Strobilanthes jomyi has not received the media attention it deserves. "I feel that many people are unaware of it. These plants are often confined to obscure corners. The plant's weed-like appearance can pose a threat to conservation," he said.