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Kurinji Flowers
Species of Stroilanthes grow wild on the Nilgiri ranges between 6000 to 7000 feet. Stroilanthes belongs to Acanthaceae, one of the natural orders among the flowering plants. Stroilanthes is derived from two Greek words meaning " a flower relating to resembling a cone", that is cone-head.
There are over 200 species of Stroilanthes, nearly all in Asia, and over 150 species occur in India, especially in Western Ghats and Nilgiris alone claims more than thirty species. Many of the species flower only at a long interval, such as between six and twelve yers usually, and in some, even at longer intervals like 35 years. There are also some annuals. Over the years the area over which it occurs has become less and less due to increasing cultivation.
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Tamil Nadu, the southern most state of India, is known chiefly for its towering temples, magnificent Gopurams, silks and incense. The golden beaches of Tamil Nadu make sun-bathing while sipping coconut water, an unforgettable experience. This state has been the focal point of peace and knowledge since time immemorial.
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The most common and best known species, Stroilanthes Kunthianus (Kurinji) occurs on the dry slopes of the eastern side of the hills, where there is little or no tree forest. It is tall bushy shrub, sometimes eight to ten feet high, and covered with a profusion of bright blue bell-like flowers.
As in the case of the bamboo, they grow for a number of years, until at the appointed time of maturity, they all burst into flowers, mature their seed, die down and disappear.The flowering appears once in 12 years. One interesting result of the gregarious flowering of Stroilanthes is the largest increase in bees found in its vicinity during the flowering period. Immense quantities of honey become available and the rock bees and common hill bees visit the plant.
