Tiger Flower

Todd Sain Sr.

6 years ago

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Tiger Flower Facts

Tiger Flower serves as one of the common names for the truly stunning variety of flora known to scientists as the Tigridia pavonia. In addition to this, the gorgeous plant also goes by the somewhat unusual names Mexcian Shell Flower and Jockey’s Cap.
The beauty received that technical name due to the efforts of the respected Belgian botanist, Pierre-Joseph Redouté. Although perhaps better known for his artwork, he accomplished the first formal acknowledgment it as a separate and distinct species.
This beautiful flower also represents a member of a very small group. It forms one of only roughly twelve species classified within its particular genus. Quite amazingly, all of the known flowers in this group rank as equally beautiful to behold.
Very sadly, however, the natural beauty remains comparatively short-lived. While each plant produces multiple stems, individual blooms open for only a single day. While not unknown, this remains an uncommon trait among flowers.
Due to its truly brilliant and frequently quite varied colors, this marvel of Nature has become quite popular with many individuals. Gardeners and homeowners alike often use the lovely Tiger Flower as an ornamental plant in many parts of the world.

Snowdrop Pine Lily Rosy Periwinkle

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Tiger Flower Physical Description

The gorgeous Tiger Flower clearly remains a true pleasure to look upon, for those who know of it. That’s due to the fact that its brilliant blooms develop as two-tone. It’s therefore always presenting the world a combination of two lovely colors.

But, even more fascinating remains yet another remarkable fact. Each individual bloom on the same plant often displays different color combinations. Most notably, these variations in color incorporate pink, white, red, orchid orange, and yellow.

When open, the large blossoms further do so consisting of three single-color petals. Each of these also grows quite large in size. In fact, these sometimes reach 6 in (15 cm) across. These also flank three smaller petals spotted with a second color.

Each of its stems additionally develops as quite slender and long in design. Consequently, a stem often attains a length measuring as much as 24 in (60 cm). Finally, the foliage of the Tiger Flower consists of upright, bladed leaves, colored a light green.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Angiosperms
Class: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Genus: Tigridia
Species: T. pavonia

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Tiger Flower Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

The truly remarkable Tiger Flower evolved as endemic to a particular portion of the world. This region consists of parts of South America and Central America. That range includes the countries of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras.

But, through the actions of humans, the gorgeous flower spread extensively. This spreading of the plant outside its native range happened both accidentally and intentionally. As a result, it has now also become naturalized in the countries of Peru and Equador.

In its natural range, however, this incredible species most typically appears in a specific habitat. This consists of forests, usually with a high ratio of either oak or pine. The magnificent flora also appears along roadsides and other semi-wild habitats, though.

Its gorgeous, two-toned blossoms also open early in the morning, and close in the early afternoon. Yet sadly, each of these lasts only a single day. Each day a different bloom will open, however. Thus each plant blooms for an extended period.

In addition to this, this amazing flower grows several ways. These include from either small seeds or slightly larger bulbs. It also manages to reproduce in rather prodigious numbers. The bulbs of the plant themselves actually remain edible.

In fact, in the past, the various Indigenous Peoples within its habitat range often consumed these wondrous works of Nature. Many of them considered the roasted bulbs of the Tiger Flower to be a delicacy, possessing a slight chestnut-like flavor.