5 RARE FLOWERS FOUND IN INDIA

 

Flowers they say are the finest gift to mankind as these are one of nature’s most magnificent creations. They look spectacular with their pleasing aroma and are also used most often for special occasions. India is a land of colours and diversity and has its own share of bright and beautiful flowers. We have all seen and know about a lot of flowers such as roses, orchids or lotuses, but many rare flowers in India are completely unique in their appearance.

Let us have a look at these 5 strange, unusual and pretty flowers of India.

 

1. REBE:

Rediscovered after 115 years by a team of botanists in Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh, Rebe is a rare, endangered, medicinal plant, which was thought to be extinct.

It is a small plant measuring about 30 cm and has two petals and two sepals.  It has a multi-colour palette with petals from white to pink, a soothing sight in itself.

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The plant is used by local Adi and Tagin tribes to treat stomach ache and dehydration. This rare and beautiful flower of India is currently seen only in Arunachal Pradesh.

 

2. MAGENTA GHOST PLANT:

This rare, endemic, parasitic plant was rediscovered in 2003, at Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary in Anamalai, near Pollachi, after 90 years. It is commonly known by its botanical name christisonia tubolsa and belongs to the family of the ghost flower.

Magenta ghost plant grows at the roots without any leaves and chlorophyll, so it gets its nutrition by stealing it from other plants. The flowers of this plant are attractive and have a magenta colour on the outside and it is usually identified by these bright flowers emerging from the forest floor.

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This plant is endemic to southern India, where it occurs only at an altitude of 900-1200 metres.

3. YAKLA SNOW LOTUS:

Yakla snow lotus, a rare perennial herb is native to the Himalayas, found at altitudes of 3500-4300 m. It is named after the Yakla Pass in Sikkim.

Yakla Snow Lotus is a beautiful stemless plant. Flowers are deep purple; a solitary central flower-head is completely surrounded in dense white to purple woolly hairs. The wool aids in the thermoregulation of the flowers, minimising the frost damage at night, and the ultraviolet light damage of the intense high altitude sunlight. The whole plant, thus, has a very symmetric and pretty appearance.

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This plant is harvested in July and August to yield the herb that is used as a tonic for weakness, a therapy for menstrual disorders and a remedy for arthritis.

Due to the strong demand for its use as herb medicine, this plant has become quite rare.

4. WOODROW’S CRINUM LILY:

Woodrow’s crinum lily is the largest, rare and critically endangered bulbous plant which was thought to be extinct, but was rediscovered in 2004, after a gap of about 100 years!

It grows up to 50-70 cm tall. Large and fragrant white flowers arise on a scape from the bulb outside the tuft of leaves. It has six stamens with red filaments and yellow anthers. The flowers are commercially used in the pharmaceutical and perfume industries.

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 Woodrow’s crinum lily is endemic to Satara District, Mahabaleshwar and Kates Point in Maharashtra.

 

 5. SIROY LILY:

Siroi lily, one of the famous flowers of India, is found on the top of Siroy Hill in the Ukhrul district of Manipur. This is the only place in the world where it is found in the wild.

This shade-loving lily has pale bluish-pink petals and in the wild, flowers only in June and July. Like most lilies, it has long and arrow like leaves. Its flowers are white, delicately flushed with pink at the base and hang looking down.

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This flower can also be used for medicinal purposes for its antibacterial properties which can be used to treat skin and stomach problems.

The plant doesn't take transplantation well, and is threatened with extinction due to intensive tourist activities organised during the blossoming period of the lily.