Why is Neelakurinji blooming only once in 12 years?
Neelakurinji is a shrub used to grow abundantly in the Western Ghats South India's shola grasslands. The Nilgiri Hills, turning blue once in twelve years when all together the Neelakurinji bloom, scattering the landscape with its hue. The hills literally mean the Blue Mountains that got their name from Neelakurinji flowers purplish-blue. The Western Ghats is renowned for its rich flora and fauna, and it also saves the mystery of Neelakurinji that flourishes as a tradition. Kurinji and other species of plants harmonize their flowering at a common site within large local populations. Plants can be categorized as plants which are annuals and perennials. Yearly plants complete their service life in one year. They grow out of the seed, blossom, yield seeds, and die the one growing season. Perennials plants are alive for over two years, flowering and setting seeds every year. Many kinds of perennials only bloom once in their lives, set seeds, and die. And from these seeds is created th...