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Neelakurinji has been categorized as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of threatened species for the first time under Criteria A2c.

**About Neelakurinji (*Strobilanthes kunthiana***)

	Details
Blooming Cycle	Blooms once every 12 years. Some bloom once every 7 years.
Physical Description	Shrub that can grow up to 3 meters in height. Vibrant purplish-blue flowers bloom synchronously over large areas. Named after Kunthi River which flows through Kerala’s Silent Valley National Park.
Habitat and Distribution	Endemic to high-altitude *Shola grasslands* of the Western Ghats. Found at elevations between 1,340 to 2,600 meters. Key regions: Nilgiris, Munnar, Palani-Kodaikanal, Anamalai mountains, and some isolated populations in the Eastern Ghats (Yercaud, Shevaroy Hills).
Historical Blooming Records	Documented blooming in 1838, 1850, 1862, 1874, 1886, 1898, 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, and 2018.
Cultural Significance	Nilgiri Hills named after its purplish-blue flowers. Paliyan tribal people of Tamil Nadu used it to calculate their age.
Ecological Importance	Critical for the biodiversity of montane grasslands. Provides nectar for pollinators during mass flowering.

[2011] The “Red Data Books” published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) contain lists of

Endemic plant and animal species present in the biodiversity hotspots.
Threatened plant and animal species.
Protected sites for conservation of nature and natural resources in various countries.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 3

(b) 2 only

(d) 3 only