Neelakurinji Flower Blooms

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According to the recent orders, those who uproot or destroy the plant will invite a fine of ₹25,000 and three years imprisonment. The cultivation of this and its possession is not allowed,
Neelakurinji has been included on the list when the Centre expanded the earlier protected list of six plant species to 19.

Neelakuruj is scientifically known as Strobilanthus Kunsthaus,
It is a shrub that grows in the shola forests of the Western Ghats in South India.
The plant is named after the famous Kunthi River which flows through Kerala’s Silent Valley National Park, where the plant occurs abundantly.
It is found at an altitude of 1,300-2,400 metres.
This flower blooms once in 12 years as the pollination of flowers needs a longer period.
It is mainly found in the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.

This act was enacted for the protection of plants and animal species.
Also, this act established schedules of protected plant and animal species; hunting or harvesting of these species was largely outlawed.

All Neelakurunji flowers are endemic to Shola forests of western ghats.

Source: Centre puts Neelakurinji on the list of protected plants.