Three species complexes are recognized within Tigridia subgenus Tigridia (Molseed 1970) .

Tigridia azufresensis belongs to the Violacea complex together with T. augusta Drapiez (1832: 131), T. dugesii S. Watson (1885: 375), T. mexicana Molseed (1970: 52), and T. durangensis (Fig. 4). All of these species develop a cauline leaf that varies in length: T. augusta (6–10 cm long), T. azufresensis (4.2–15 cm long), T. durangensis (2.6–5.2 cm long), T. dugesii (3–6 cm long), T. mexicana subsp. lilacina Molseed (1970: 55; 3–5.2 cm long), T. mexicana subsp. mexicana Molseed (1970: 54; 5.5–9 cm long), and T. mexicana subsp. passiflora Molseed (1970: 55; 4–11.5 cm long). Molseed (1970) did not mention cauline leaves in T. dugesii nor in T. durangensis . Instead, he described three spathe bracts. However, the rhipidia are sessile or short pedunculated and the cauline leaf appears to be a third spathe bract. Except for T. dugesii and T. mexicana subsp. passiflora, all species typically grow in valleys that are flooded in summer and dry during the dry up. Tigridia azufresensis may be confused with the other species of the Violacea complex, but the taxa can be identified as follows:

1. Anthesis in the afternoon...................................................................................................................................................... T. dugesii

- Anthesis early in the morning.............................................................................................................................................................2

2. Tepals white.......................................................................................................................................... T. mexicana subsp. passiflora

- Tepals yellow, lilac or lavender ..........................................................................................................................................................3

3. Tepals yellow......................................................................................................................................... T. mexicana subsp. mexicana

- Tepals lilac or lavender.......................................................................................................................................................................4

4. Cauline leaf as long as or longer than the inflorescence .............................................................................................. T. azufresensis

- Cauline leaf as long as or shorter than the inflorescence ...................................................................................................................5

5. Floral cup open and shallow......................................................................................................................................... T. durangensis

- Floral cup tight and deep ....................................................................................................................................................................6

6. Anthers touching or extending beyond the cup rim ................................................................................. T. mexicana subsp. lilacina

- Anthers not touching the cup rim ........................................................................................................................................ T. augusta