Rare Snake flower adds beauty to Khamasom peak
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik

Ukhrul, July 30 2015: Unsighted for long, a typical and peculiar flower called Khamasom Van resembling as snake has been seen blooming at Khamasom Khayuipam , Khamasom village in Ukhrul district.

The flower called Khamasom Van (meaning only Khamasom village flower) in the local dialect closely resembles a snake.

The place where the flower was found lies near the Indo-Myanmar border pillar number 23 and 14.The place is a dense forest with gigantic trees and the flower was found blooming at the shady region of a swampy area of the peak called Khamasom Khayuipam.

Khamasom Van/snake flower is a seasonal flower, almost two feet in height bearing a single leaf and the stalk/stem measuring the length of a water bird's leg.

The flower blooms during the monsoon season and this is one reason why it has not been detected for many years as trekkers and hunters seldom venture out during the rainy season.

Snake flower

The flower starts to grow from mid May and blooms till July, that is for a span of 3 months.

Despite its unique feature, Khamasom Van/snake flower is yet to be included in the botanical families of the world.

Khamasom Khayuipam being a thick forest there is heavy deforestation, endangering the existence of the flower.

Villagers said that the number of flowers have decreased down the years.

According to village elder Ringphami Haorei, the native villagers seldom come across the flower during its blooming season as the place where it blooms is situated far away.

Only regular trekkers and local hunters get the opportunity to see the flower in its full bloom, he said and added that many of the villagers do not know the exact location of the place where it blooms.

Attempts to plant the flower at the village were unsuccessful.

The villagers are still ignorant about its importance or its economic and medicinal values and the villagers admire it just because it is a rare species found only at Khamasom Khayuipam.

The Khamasom Van, the size of a bowl, looks beautiful when it is in full bloom.

During the full bloom the flower closely resembles the open mouth of a snake.

The stigma also closely resembles the tongue of a snake.

Khamasom village is over 145 kms away from Imphal and it takes one full day to reach Khamasom Khayuipam by foot.

Khamasom Khayuipam is also home to rare and endangered bird species like Blyth Tragopan, varieties of monkeys, ornamental orchids and trees like Phoebes.