Question

Kurinji flowers of Kodaikanal hills bloom once in _____.
A. 5 Years
B. 8 Years
C. 12 Years
D. 16 Years

Answer 1

Hint:Kurinji is a shrub that grows in western ghats (South India). It's a monocarpic plant which means each shrub reproduces only once and then dies.

Complete answer:
The Nilgiri hills have got their name from the purplish-blue flowers of Neelakurinji. In Hindi Nila means blue. These are a bright blue bell-shaped flower which is found on the western ghats. The altitude at which they grow is between 6000-7000 feet. This flower grows in the Kodaikanal Palani, Anamalai, and Nilgiris in Tamilnadu.
Kurinji is a shrub that grows in the Shola grasslands of the western ghats. The scientific name of Kurinji is Strobilanthes Kunthiana.
Apart from this blue Kurinji we also have Black Kurinji (Strobilanthes Lyrics) and white Kurinji (Strobilanthes Urceolaris) which are another two different varieties of Kurinji which grow in Kodaikanal hills.
Kurinji plant is a tall bush and can grow up to 10 feet. Last they were found in 2018 and next time they will flower in 2030. It mostly grows on hill slopes where there is very little or no forest available. Kurinji is a tall bushy shrub with reddish, hairless, blue, hairy branches.
The first record of this flower has been found in Tamil Sangam literature (200 BC – 300 AD). Also, from 1826 to 1934 all Kurinji flowering was published in the journal of the Bombay Natural History by Mrs. Morrison.

The correct answer is Option C.

Note:Kurinji is a shrub that is found in Shola grasslands in the western ghats of South India. There are two other varieties available apart from Bluish one that is Black and White Kurinji. The Nilgiri hills have got their name from the very purplish-blue flowers of Neelakurinji. It grows once in 12 years and has records found in Tamil Sangam literature.