Rigidella is a cormous genus in the Iridaceae family native to the mountainous area of southern Mexico and Guatemala. It is related to Tigridia, but has tiny inner segments. Some of the species have been assigned to that genus by some authorities. In 1996 Adolfo Espejo Serna and A.R. López-Ferrari in their Monocotiledóneas Mexicanas: una sinopsis florística reaffirmed the four species as belonging in Rigidella. These plants are summer growing and dormant in winter. They are pollinated by hummingbirds.
Rigidella flammea syn. Tigridia flammea is native to the pine woods of Mexico where it grows at 3000 meters. It has bright scarlet outer segments. The plants photographed June 2007 by Mary Sue Ittner and pictured below were growing in the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens.
Rigidella immaculata syn. Tigridia immaculata from high altitude forest areas of Guatemala and southern Mexico also has bright scarlet flowers.
Rigidella inusitata syn. Tigridia inusitata is from moist, rocky areas in the cloud forests, Mexico. The orange-red flowers have reflexed outer segments.
Rigidella orthantha syn. Tigridia orthantha is a cloud forest plant from Guatemala and Mexico. Grown and photographed by Rob Hamilton.
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