Rare and exotic plants in India

There are several rare and exotic plants that are an integral part of our country’s biodiversity and hold great significance in environmental conservation. These plant species have drawn the attention of nature enthusiasts and researchers alike. It may be difficult to find these exotic plants in India as these are rare and not easily accessible.

Table of Contents

Strobilanthes Callosus (Karvi)

This is a rare shrub of 2 to 6 metre in height, found in the Western Ghats of India. The peculiar feature of this plant is that the purple flowers bloom only once in eight years. The Karvi Plant has medicinal uses. It also provides shade to other plants and helps in controlling soil erosion.

Nelumbo Nucifera (Lotus)

Nelumbo Nucifera of the Lotus species is currently a rare or extinct plant species in Africa. It has great cultural and spiritual significance in India. A perennial aquatic plant, Lotus grows in shallow ponds, lagoons and marshes. It is considered an exotic plant and grows in tropical and subtropical regions.

Nymphaea nouchali (Neelkamal)

The Neelkamal Flower belongs to the Brahma Kamal family, found in Kedarnath in the Rudraprayag district at an altitude of 4,500 m. Also known as the blue waterlily, the Neelkamal Flower is an aquatic plant of freshwater lakes. It is found mainly in southern and eastern parts of Asia and has great mythological significance. It is also the national flower of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Strobilanthes Kunthiana (Neelakurinji)

Neelakurinji is a rare flowering plant that blooms once in 12 years. Locally called Kurinji flowers in Karnataka, the flowers grow in the Western Ghats and have a purplish blue colour. There are around 46 varieties of Neelakurinji in India and they bloom anywhere from one year to 16 years. The plant is also known for its medicinal properties in curing respiratory problems, fever, cold, etc.

Saussurea Tridactyla (Snow Lotus)

Snow Lotus is a rare and exotic flowering plant found in the Himalayan region. It was discovered at an altitude of 19,000 foot in Sikkim and characterised by its bright white flowers. In India, the Snow Lotus flower is also known as Brahma Kamal. The flowers grow a dense head of small capitula, surrounded in dense white to purple woolly hairs that protect the plant against frost damage. The florets are white to purple in colour. Snow Lotus is widely used in Tibetan medicine.

Begonia Tessaricarpa (Rebe Flower)

Rebe Flower is considered an extinct flowering plant species. The rare plant was rediscovered in Arunachal Pradesh at Namdapha National Park. It is also known to have medicinal properties that tribal people believe help in treating stomach disorders and dehydration. The flower is characterised by two sepals and pale pink- or ivory-coloured petals and one golden stamen in the centre.

Ceropegia lawii (Law’s Ceropegia)

This rare flower is known for its unique lantern-like shape and is white in colour with a purple tint inside. Law’s Ceropegia, which blooms in August, was considered endangered. It was discovered again in 1970 at Harishchandragad Hill in Maharashtra.

Meconopsis Aculeata (Himalayan Blue Poppy)

The Himalayan Blue Poppy is rare and exotic flower in India, which grows in the high Himalayan altitudes. The flower can be identified by its vibrant blue petals. It is known to have several medicinal properties and is used in the cosmetic industry.

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Harini Balasubramanian

Harini is a content management professional with over 12 years of experience. She has contributed articles for various domains, including real estate, finance, health and travel insurance and e-governance. She has in-depth experience in writing well-researched articles on property trends, infrastructure, taxation, real estate projects and related topics. A Bachelor of Science with Honours in Physics, Harini prefers reading motivational books and keeping abreast of the latest developments in the real estate sector.