Tigridia pavonia Mexican Tiger Flower

Matthew Kispert

http://chestofbooks.com/gardening-horticulture/Commercial-Gardening-2/images/Tigridia-pavonia.jpg Taxonomy:

 Kingdom Plantae – Plants  Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants  Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants  Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants  Class Liliopsida – Monocotyledons  Subclass Liliidae  Order Liliales  Family Iridaceae – Iris family  Genus Tigridia Juss. – peacock flower

 Species Tigridia pavonia http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mC7fD5Giv5s/UCU0r-OKOCI/AAAAAAAABHY/Qi1acxI2-Gg/s1600/Tigridia+small.jpg Geographic Distribution:

30oN

o http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpegMod/PIA03377_modest.jpg 15 N Geographic Distribution:

 North and Central America

 Guatemala and Mexico

 Between 15O N and 30O N latitude

 Pine and oak forests

 ~2500m above sea level

30oN

o http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpegMod/PIA03377_modest.jpg 15 N Taxonomic Description

 1 ½ -2 ½ ft tall

 Sword-shaped plicate leaves

 6” Triangular inflorescence

 3 large triangular petals

 3 smaller fiddle shaped petals

 Mottled pattern

 Fibrous root system

 Basal corm

 Mid-summer blooms

http://hortuscamden.com/images/plants/Tigridia_pavonia_conchiflora.jpg http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/2076/cimg5829v.jpg

http://bulbiflori.ro/wp-content/uploads/products_img/tigridia_pavonia.jpg http://tcf.bh.cornell.edu/users/jdelaet/8_26_06_2/oeploa410/nDSC_4714.JPG Propagation Methods

 Predominately propagated veg. via corm division

 Plant corm after last frost

 Retrieve corm in fall before first frost

 Seed propagation also successful

 Sow seeds indoors early March

 21O C with high relative humidity

 4-5 weeks to germinate

 Maintain potted indoors for first year

 Should flower in second year Market Niche

 Bulb sales should be prioritized for early to mid spring

 Height and minimal spread make this a good bedding plant

 Will compete with other irises

 Exotic flowers open one at a time daily, mid morning

 Should be identifiable with lovers of other irises Anticipated Cultural Requirements

 USDA Zones 8-10

 Full sun

 Will tolerate part shade

 Sandy well drained soil

 No PGRs anticipated

 Bulb pans and beds ideal

 Potential susceptibility to diseases of other irises

 None specifically documented at this time

 Nutrition requirements currently not defined Production Schedule from seed

 Week 7

 Sow in plug tray

 Week 11-12

 Reduce humidity and begin light fertilizer feed

 Week 16-18

 Transplant to 4” pot if seedlings are at least 3” in height

 Maintain in greenhouse first season until corm develops

 Transplant into bulb pan

 Bulbs should be ready to sell by spring the following year Experimental design

 Mixed opinion on germination requirements

 Covered/uncovered?

 Soil-less medium?

 144 seeds divided into 4 groups

 36 seeds planted in germination mix, uncovered

 36 seeds planted in germination mix, covered

 36 seeds planted in sand on perlite, uncovered

 36 seeds planted in sand on perlite, covered

 Seeds sown Week 7 Cotyledon emergence during week 12 Seedlings transplant ready? Week 16 Root system still not very developed Experiment results

Grow Media Seeds planted Seeds Germinated Germination % Germ mix covered 36 34 94 Germ mix uncovered 36 18 50 Sand covered 36 30 83 Sand uncovered 36 12 33

Total Germination 65% Genetic Improvements?

 Decrease germination time

 Develop color specific cultivars

 Investigate disease, heat, drought resistance