Sources from Ooty stated that the bloom of the legendary, rare and ancient flower ‘Kurinji’ has begun to spread across the hills here this Southwest monsoon. Meanwhile the bloom which began in Kil-Kotagiri in mid July and then in other parts of Kotagiri and Coonoor slopes has now begun on the Kallhatti slopes in Ooty suburbs.
Furthermore in this backdrop, the Nilgiris Documentation Centre (NDC) appealed to the district administration to take steps to study and identify ‘Kurinji’ habitats to conserve them for posterity. Reports added it is generally said that the mass blooming of the ‘Kurinji’ across the hills in many areas in ancient times gave the Nilgiris hills its name, the Blue Mountains.
Moreover the good bloom of the ‘kurinji’ is now a tourist attraction. Mr.
Dharmalingam Venugopal, NDC director, said that over the years, the area over
which it occurs has reduced sharply due to increasing cultivation and spread of
tea plantations. He explained “There are over 150 of this species in India and
the Nilgiris alone claims more than 30 species and many of the species flower
only at long intervals, between six and 12 years usually and there are also some
annuals”.
