TIGRIDIA Conchiflora.
Yellow-flowered Tigridia.
Class and Order.—Triandria Monogynia.
Syn. Tigridia Conchiflora. Sweet's B. F. G. t. 128.
Root bulbous—stem radical, angular—leaves alternate, broadly lanceolate, plicate, inflated at the base, dark green, two sheathing spathes at the base of the corolla, ovate, lanceolate—corolla bright orange, slightly tinted with a redder shade on the margin of the petals, base spotted with dark crimson—petals six, three outer petals broadly ovate, acute, base concave, three inner ones smaller, panduriform—stamens three—filaments united—anthers oblong—style longer than the stamens—stigma divided into three parts, each bifid.
This is one of the most splendid plants which has been introduced into this country. It is a native of Mexico, and was brought thence by Mr. Bullock, in 1824. On its first flowering here, it was considered a variety only of T. pavonia, but upon careful examination they appeared to be perfectly distinct. This is satisfactorily proved by Mr. Sweet, in his B. F. G. p. 128. The bulbs may be planted early in the spring in light sandy soil, and placed in a green-house or frame, as it facilitates their flowering: when the weather permits, the roots should be taken out of the pots and put into the open air, in a warm sheltered situation, where they will make a brilliant appearance for a considerable time—when they have done flowering, the roots require to be taken up and kept dry during the winter. The only species with which we are yet acquainted, besides the one figured, is T. pavonia.
Pl. 41.