Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana), has been included on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) official Red List of threatened species.
The purplish flowering shrub blooms once in 12 years.
This is the first ever Global Red List assessment for this flagship species of the montane grasslands of southwest India.
Almost 40% of the habitat has been lost, the remaining is under pressure from invasion of exotic species such as eucalyptus and black wattle.