An evening view after rain from my village

An evening view after rain from my village Valillapuzha , Areekode , Malappuram , Kerala , India 

Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) - View from Chokramudi hill , Munnar , Kerala

Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) - View from Chokramudi hill , Munnar , Kerala , India

Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) is a shrub that is found in the shola forests of the Western Ghats in South India. Nilgiri Hills, which literally means the blue mountains, got their name from the purplish blue flowers of Neelakurinji that blossoms gregariously only once in 12 years. This plant belongs to the genus Strobilanthes which was first scientifically described by Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck in the 19th century. The genus has around 250 species, of which at least 46 are found in India. It occurs at an altitude of 1300 to 2400 metres. The plant is usually 30 to 60 cm high. They can, however, grow well beyond 180 cm under congenial conditions.