Lakshadweep- Neelakurinji
Common Name: Kurinji or Neelakurinji
Scientific Name: Strobilanthes kunthiana
Description: Kurinji grows between 1300 and 2400 meters above sea level. The typical height of the plant is 30 to 60 cm. There are over 250 species in the genus, at least 46 of which are found in India. The majority of these species exhibit peculiar flowering behaviors, with blooming cycles ranging from one year to sixteen years. The Nilgiri Mountain range got its name from the purplish blue flower, which blooms only once every twelve years and combines the words nil (blue) and giri (mountains). The words neela (blue) and kurinji (flower) in Malayalam are the source of the name Neelakurinji.