DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWERS. 363 



TIGRIDI A. TIGER-FLOWER. 



[Named from tigris, the tiger, the flowers being spotted.] 



Tigridia Pavonia. Mexican Tiger-Flower. This, and 

 T. conchiftora, which is by some considered as a distinct 

 species, and by others as only a variety, are exquisitely 

 beautiful, but not sufficiently hardy to endure much frost. 

 The bulbs are tunicated, producing from one to four 

 stems each, from eighteen inches to two feet high ; the 

 flowers are of short duration. It is born to display its 

 glory but for a few hours, when the sun totally destroys 

 its beauty ; but to compensate for this sudden decline it 

 continues to produce flowers a number of weeks. 



The shape of the flower is singularly curious, and the 

 coloring of each variety gorgeous. The flowers of T. Pa- 

 vonia, are of the richest scarlet imaginable, variegated 

 with a bright golden-yellow, spotted with black. 

 The ground-work of T. conchiflora is of the richest 

 orange, variegated with light-yellow, also spotted with 

 black. No flowers can exceed these in beauty ; but na- 

 ture does not lavish all her riches upon one flower; in 

 this there is no scent. The flowers are large ; produced 

 in succession nearly all the season. The bulbs should be 

 planted about the middle of May, about two inches deep 

 in any rich garden soil ; they require no particular care. 

 The bulbs and offsets should be taken up in October, and 

 dried ; but be particular not to expose them to frost while 

 drying, or at any other time, as that would destroy them. 

 They may be kept in dry sand, saw-dust, or moss, until 

 the time of planting in the spring. The mice are very 

 fond of the roots, and if they find them, but few, if any, 

 will be left to plant. 



