Nilgiri wild jamun trees fail to flower in 2026, worry scientists

In a worrying sign for one of India's most fragile ecosystems, the endangered Nilgiri wild jamun (Syzygium calophyllifolium) has failed to flower or fruit this season across the Nilgiris landscape. A reporter who trekked to the remote Western Catchment Area in Tamil Nadu, where hundreds of these trees grow above 2,000 metres, found no ripened fruit and stunted budding in just a few trees.

The IUCN Red List classifies the species as Endangered, estimating fewer than 700 mature individuals remain in the wild across five montane landscapes. The Nilgiri and Agasthyamalai landscapes together account for 72% of the population. Scientists and forest officials are concerned that 2026, one of the warmest years with a developing super El Nino and poor monsoon, may have disrupted the tree's reproductive cycle.

While experts caution that one year's failure cannot be directly attributed to climate change, they stress the need to observe the trees next year. If the failure repeats, climate stress becomes a stronger possibility. The species is an indicator of ecological health in the ancient shola forests, and its fruit is a key food source for animals including the Nilgiri Tahr.