552 FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 
TIGER FLOWERS 
Natural Order In1pEx. Genus Tigridia 
Ticrm1a (Greek, tigris, a tiger, and eidos, likeness: from the spotted 
flowers). A genus of about eight species of half-hardy perennial herbs 
with Crocus-like rootstalk, and plaited sword-shaped leaves. The flower 
is at first enclosed in a spathe as in Jris. The three outer segments are 
much larger than the inner three. The filaments of the three stamens 
are united throughout their length to form a tube, through which passes 
the style; the anthers are free at the summit of the tube. The ovary 1s 
three-celled, and develops into a thin-textured capsule. Each flower 
lasts a very short time. The species are natives of Mexico, Central 
America, Chili, and Peru, at high altitudes. 
The names of these plants have been suggested by 
the plentiful spots and streaks on the flowers, especially 
those of Tigridia Pavonia, which was the first species to be introduced 
—from Mexico, in 1796. T. violacea came next, from Southern Mexico, 
in 1838, and five years later three new species arrived—T. atrata from 
South Mexico, 7. curvata from Real del Monte, and 7. lutea from Peru. 
T. Van Houwttei was introduced from South Mexico in 1875, and 7. 
Pringlei from Peru in 1888. 
TIGRIDIA ATRATA (black). Stem 2 feet high; leaves 
plaited, 12 to 18 inches long. Flower dark purple; sepals 
with green-spotted claw and dark brown blade; April. 
T. PAvONIA (peacock). Peacock Tiger Flower, or Flower of Tigris. 
Stem 1 to 2 feet high. Leaves plaited, sheathing at base. Flowers three 
to a spathe, scarlet spotted with orange; June to September. There are 
several good varieties. The var. conchiflora (Plate 255) is orange, spotted 
with scarlet; var. grandiflora is bright crimson; grandiflora alba is 
creamy white, spotted with rich lake; canariense, bright yellow, spotted 
with scarlet ; speciosa, dark scarlet, spotted with yellow. 
AN Hourrer (Van Houtte’s). Stem branched, 1 foot high. 
Leaves plaited, few. Flowers, 2 inches across, blotched and veined with 
purple; ground-colour of sepals yellow, of petals lilac; spring 
Tigridias being half-hardy perennials, require to be 
lifted and kept in a frost-proof shed or under the stage in 
a greenhouse during winter. They are grown at Kew as follows :— 
In March the corms are planted in sunny borders of light rich soil, in 
which they are set 3 inches deep and about 3 inches apart. In very 
History. 
Principal Species. 
Cultivation. 
