TIGER FLOWER. 93 



TIGER FLOWER. 



Perhaps there is no flower treated of in this work that 

 is more beautiful than some of the species of the genus 

 Tigridia. Like all Mexican bulbs, these are tender, and 

 should either be cultivated in the green-house, or carefully- 

 preserved until settled warm weather, and then planted in 

 good light soil, in a sheltered situation. A bed of these 

 beautiful flowers would afford as much gratification to some 

 amateurs as a bed of Tulips. * 



The Tigridia conchiflora is of a rich yellow colour, tinged 

 and spotted with white and crimson ; the colours are very- 

 vivid and finely contrasted. The Tigridia pavonia is of the 

 brightest scarlet, tinged and spotted with brilliant yellow. 

 The corolla, which is about four inches in diameter, is com- 

 posed of six petals ; the outer petals are thrown backward, 

 and exhibit the blossom in all its splendour, which exists 

 only a single day ; but as if to compensate for its transient 

 visit, each plant will produce a number of flowers ; and 

 where a bed of them can be collected, they will amuse their 

 admirers for several weeks from July to September. In such 

 case the bulbs may. be planted about two inches deep, say 

 nine by fifteen inches apart, toward the end of April, or early 

 in May, and taken up again in October, to preserve for plant- 

 ing the ensuing year. 



