Strobilanthes kunthiana exhibits (monocarpic flowering): the plant grows for over a decade, flowers once, sets seed, and dies. Research by the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation and the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) suggests an internal molecular clock regulating the transition from vegetative to reproductive phase, likely tied to cumulative photoperiod and temperature thresholds.
The season typically begins toward the end of the monsoon, starting in August and peaking in September and October. The flowers usually last for about two months before fading away, not to be seen again for another decade. next kurinji flower season
During non-flowering years, Kurinji is ignored by grazers. But during flowering, mass herbivory by gaur and sambar could decimate blooms. Fencing strategies need implementation by 2029. next kurinji flower season