230 DIFFERENTIATION AND SPECIFICITY OF STARCHES. 



Vallisneria spiralis Linn. (Hydrocharilacece.) Dry root-stocks and runners. Grains oval, elongated, 

 conical, more rarely triangular with rounded corners, or pear-shaped; mostly 1.5 to twice 

 as long as thick, lamellse frequently distinct, all incomplete; instead of the hilum a small 

 cavity with short radial fissures is observed; hilum end rarely thiimer, sometimes of equal 

 thickness, usually thicker than the distal end; the latter is sometimes broadened, thinned 

 and squared; eccentricity about one-seventh. Length about 35/j. 



7ns sambucina Linn. {Iridacem.) Fresh root-stock. Grains are elongated or oval, frequently 3 to 

 4 angles, with protruding rounded angles; a little longer than 3 times as long as broad; 

 slightly compressed; one-half to two-thirds as thick as broad; lamellae delicate, rarely visible; 

 sometimes several (2 to 5) radiating fissures emerging from the hilum. Length about 27/i, 

 width about 16/i. The type of these grains, like those of the other species of Iris, is not 

 clearly defined. Transition forms to the other eccentric types are numerous. 



Iris florentina Linn. (Iridacece.) Dry root-stock. Grains spherically-oval, oval, rarely oblong; 

 often narrowed at one end; circular in transverse section; a little longer than twice as 

 long as thick; frequently several (3 to 5) distinct lamella on the side of the long radius; 

 frequently instead of the hilum a very small cavity is observed, from which a few radial 

 fissures rarely emerge; about one-fourth to one-sixth eccentric. Length about 25/i, thick- 

 ness about I9fi. Transitional forms to the other eccentric types. Several doublets are 

 present. 



Iris pallida Lam. (Iridacece.) Fresh root-stock. Grains spherical, rounded-triangular, oval, or 

 conical, usually slightly compressed in transverse section; a little longer to scarcely twice as 

 long as broad; lamellse delicate and rarely visible; usually instead of the hilum a small cavity 

 with 2 to 5 radiating fissures is observed. Length about 19/i, width about 13ju. Transitional 

 forms to the other eccentric types. Several doublets are present. 



Himantoglossum hircinum Rich. (Orchidaceas.) Dry bulbs. Grains oval, rod-shaped, conical, rarely 

 rounded or rounded-triangular; most of them circular in transverse section; the broadest 

 ones slightly compressed (about half as thick as long); lamellae rather numerous, distinct 

 and incomplete; sometimes instead of the hilum a small cavity is observed from which several 

 very short and delicate fissures radiate; about one-eighth eccentric; both ends usually of 

 equal thickness, occasionally the hilum end is thicker or thinner; the distal end often shortened, 

 and if broader than the proximal end, it is slightly compressed. Length about 35;u. Some 

 grains have an almost central hilum; others are semi-compound, and with two components. 

 Schacht (Microscon, 2 Aufl., pag. 48, fig. 2, / and g) shows drawings of two starch-graina 

 from the bulbs of Himantoglossum, unlike any that Nageli saw; most likely, NageU states, 

 they are in process of solution. 



Hedychium gardnerianum Wall. {Zingiber acece.) Root-stocks. According to the description and 

 drawings of Bischoff (Bot. Zeit., 1844, 388) the grains are 2 to 4 times as long as broad; 

 often distorted or sharply indented; both ends alike or thickened at one end, either clavi- 

 form or capitate; plainly striated or repeatedly constricted. Length about 50;u. All the 

 grains that are illustrated are probably about to pass into solution. This view is supported 

 by the illustrations, which Fritzche (Poggendorff's Annal., xxxii, Taf. ii, figs. 50 to 53) gives 

 of the grains from the root-stocks of Hedychium hirsutum in process of solution. 



Alpinia galanga Swartz. {Zingiber acece.) Dry root-stocks. Grains lanceolate, conical, or rod-shaped, 

 frequently somewhat irregular; mostly 2.5 to 4 times as long, occasionally a little longer 

 than broad; the narrower ones terete, the broader ones slightly compressed; lamellae delicate 

 or indistinct, only the innermost ones complete; usually instead of the hilum, a small cavity 

 is observed; one-seventh to one-seventeenth eccentric; the hilum end often thicker; occa- 

 sionally the distal end broadened and also thinned and squared. Length to 55/i, width to 25/i. 

 Several grains show traces of changes by moist heat. Among these isolated doublets are 

 rarely found. 



Costus speciosus Smith. {Zingiberacece.) Root-stock. According to Fritzche (Poggendorff's Annal., 

 1834, XXXII, Taf. ii, fig. 32), the grains are almost cylindrical, about 4 times as long as thick; 

 with distinct lamellae; hilum about one-eighth eccentric. 



Costus spiralis Rose; Costus comosus Rose. {Zingiberacece.) According to H. Criiger (Bot. Zeit., 

 1854, Taf. II, figs. 20 and 23), the grains are as above, but somewhat narrower at the 

 hilum end. 



