Common name: Hill Conehead • Hindi: Birkubat • Tamil: கொபுரம் தந்கீ Gopuram thangi • Malayalam: ഗൊപുരമ് തന്ഗീ Gopuram thangi • Marathi: भूई कारवी Bhui karvi, Banchimani • Gujarati: Kalu kariyatu
Botanical name: Nilgirianthus reticulatus Family: Acanthaceae (Barleria family)
Synonyms: Strobilanthes reticulatus
Hill Conehead is a perennial shrub, growing to 1-2 ft tall. Many quadrangular
branches arise from the base, and spread into a hemispherical shape.
Oppositely arranged ovate, acute leaves, 5-8 cm long, are covered with stiff
hairs. Bluish-purple flowers occur in spikes, 5-10 cm long, in leaf-axils.
Flowers are cone-shaped, 2-3 cm, with 5 petals. Petals are crisp and rounded.
Flowers once in 7 years. Flowering: August-October.
| Photographed in Sahyadri Hills, Maharashtra. |
Identification credit: Prashant Awale
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