DEHRADUN: Changing weather patterns are likely causing Brahmakamal, a rare flower that grows at elevations between 3,500-4,800 meters, to bloom out of season in Uttarakhand’s. Chamoli District while the low tourist activity and the resulting lack of pollution may have led to the plant being seen at lower altitudes in another part of the state.
BrahmakamalSaussurea Obvallata) is the state flower of Uttarakhand that blooms during the middle of the monsoon (July-August). This year, however, a team of forest officials in Rudraprayag who had been patrolling at high altitudes in the Himalayas found several of the flowers in bloom in October.
As images of the white flower went viral on social media, it piqued the interest of netizens and scientists alike. Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary DFO Amit Kanwar, who took the photos at Nandi Kund in the Chamoli district, said this may have been a result of changing weather patterns. “There was enough snowfall this year compared to previous years and the snow also melted late.”
BrahmakamalSaussurea Obvallata) is the state flower of Uttarakhand that blooms during the middle of the monsoon (July-August). This year, however, a team of forest officials in Rudraprayag who had been patrolling at high altitudes in the Himalayas found several of the flowers in bloom in October.
As images of the white flower went viral on social media, it piqued the interest of netizens and scientists alike. Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary DFO Amit Kanwar, who took the photos at Nandi Kund in the Chamoli district, said this may have been a result of changing weather patterns. “There was enough snowfall this year compared to previous years and the snow also melted late.”
Experts said that in Pithoragarh District This year, the flower was seen blooming even at altitudes lower than 3,000 meters. Brijesh Singh, a local conservationist, said the absence of tourist activity during the shutdown helped decrease pollution, which could have prompted the flowers to expand their territory.
01:10Look: Brahma Kamal flowers begin to bloom in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli
Anup Chandra, Senior Scientist at the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun, told TOI: “The flower may be blooming in October due to lack of pollution this year. Or these could just be sporadic cases of burgeoning stress. The flower could also have been a subspecies. Adequate research is needed to better understand this. ”
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