Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

A splash of kurinji on hills near Munnar

Roy Mathew

A million flowers are in bloom after 12 years

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A million kurinji flowers are in bloom on the hills near Munnar. However, the gregarious blossoms are more scattered this time than in the past.

The flowering of kurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana), which blooms once in 12 years, began early this year at Kodaikanal. Now the flowering process is nearing its mid-point on the hills near the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border, while at the Eravikulam National Park, where rain is intense, the buds are just beginning to open up. Flowering will continue for a few months more at various locations.

The white and purple flowers, which wither in a week, will together yield seeds in large numbers, a survival tactic acquired by the plant against animals which feed on the seeds. Irrespective of the time of germination, the seeds flower only after 12 years from now. However, there are different colonies of the plant near Munnar and other parts of the Western Ghats, whose flowering season is offset by four years. But they also follow the 12-year cycle. Besides, there are other species of the genus Strobilanthes, which have different flowering cycles.

Once kurinji used to bloom like a carpet across the shola grasslands of the Nilgiris, Palani and Munnar. Planting and other activities have led to its habitat shrinking. Government and private plantations now occupy a large portion of the kurinji habitat. Though the Kerala Government may desist from planting new areas, encroachments on the shola grasslands by private planters continue. Last month Forest Minister Benoy Viswam announced that the Government was considering forming a kurinji sanctuary for the protection of the plant, but a decision is yet to be taken.

Meanwhile, the Forest and Revenue Departments are imposing some restrictions on visitors to Munnar from August 19 to prevent destruction of the plants. Heavy vehicles will not be allowed on the road from Munnar to the Eravikulam National Park to prevent traffic jams. According to an order issued by the Revenue Divisional Officer, Devikulam, such vehicles will have to be parked at specified places. Visitors will be transported to Rajamala (the tourist area of the park) by KSRTC buses. The Forest Department has its own vehicles to take visitors inside the park. Restrictions on the number of visitors will be likely if there is a heavy rush.

Signboards will be erected all around Munnar calling for protection of the plants. The Worldwide Fund for Nature, newspapers and banks are sponsoring these efforts.

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