The wonder and beauty of the Nelu flower

by Gamini Warushamana

The wonderful environs of the Horton Plains these days are in a flash of colour with the once-in-twelve year blooming of the Nelu flower. The entire environs of the Horton plains is reported to be covered with the blooms.

A variety of Nelu fl owers fi lling the environs of Horton Plains

The white, pink and purple carpet of Nelu flowers has given an entirely new dimension to the plains and is said to be a sight to behold. In a framed portrait of the Nelu flower with a brief description is displayed at the Pattipola railway station. The picture taken in 2001 by Yomal Perera of Hill Safari gives a brief history of the life cycle of the plant and its blooming season and has correctly predicted that the next blooming season between September - December 2013.

So now, from the last week of September and may be continue another two weeks, the Nelu is in full blossom and you have a limited time to experience this marvellous wonder of nature.According to Botanists, the Nelu also called Nilu or Nilla is a plant of Strobilanthes family. There are around 130 Strobilanthes varieties in the world mainly in the Asian region. There are 31 species of Strobilanthes in Sri Lanka and of them 26 varieties are endemic to Sri Lanka. In the Horton Plains you can find eight varieties and seven of them are endemic to the Horton Plains.

Strobilanthes Pulcherrima, Strobilanthes Viscosa, Strobilanthes Dianadra, Strobilanthes Hookeri, Strobilanthes Sexennies, Strobilanthes Calycina, Strobilanthes Nockii and Strobilanthes Anecps varieties can be found in the Horton Plains.

This blossom of Nelu flower is specially important because the flower blooms in a 12-14 years cycle.

Flowers can be seen along the Pattipola and Ohiya entrances of the park, in Thotupola Kanda and around Baker's Fall. The Totupola Kanda area is covered with white, pink and purple carpet of flowers.

It is reported that the biodiversity of Horton Plains has changed with the flowers in bloom. There are billions of bees and wasps and their hum of them collecting nectar can be heard all around. The colour of the plain and the density of insects have also changed.