GENUS FRITILLARIA. 



499 



Chart No. 112. 



ment. The ronsjiicuous forms arc the (>lli]itical, the rod-shajx'd (wliicli is somotimes bent), the 

 irroRuhir ('llii)ti("al (which iia.s a Iji-oatleiUHl distal end), triaiisular (with ciirvcxl l)ase and rounded 

 angles), and pyriform; also, ovoid, clam-shell-shapcd, and quadrilateral with rounded angles. 



The hilum is a fairly distinct and large round spot or cavity. It is eccentric from one-fourth 

 to one-sixth, usually about one-fifth, of the longitudinal axis of the grain. It is frequently fissured, 

 the fissure being a straight, clean-cut line, usually very short. 



The lamellce are not \'ery distinct fine circles or ellipses, or segments of circles, which generally 

 follow the outline of the grain and are regular. They are not so fine, but fairly distinct for the 

 most part near the hilum. The numVier was not determined. 



The grains vary in size. The small grains are 10 by 8//; the larger are narrow, elongated forms, 

 56 by 30;u; the broader, elongated forms are 55 by 38/j in length and breadth. The common 

 sizes of the two latter forms are 34 by 21;li and 30 by 24//. 



Polariscopic Properties. The figure is eccentric, distinct, but not clear-cut. Some of its lines 

 are broad and not clearly outlined for the greater part of their length; they are sometimes bisected 

 and occasionally bent and otherwise distorted, and vari- 

 able in width. 



The degree of polarization is fairly high, varying 

 somewhat in different grains and materially in different 

 aspects of the same grain, being highest when the grain 

 is viewed on end or edge. In the same aspect of a grain 

 it is often low^er near the distal end. 



With selenite the quadrants are generally not very 

 well defined, are usually irregular in shape, and unequal in 

 size. The colors are usually not pure. 



Iodine Reactions. With 0.25 per cent Lugol's solu- 

 tion the grains all color a fairly deep blue-violet; with 

 0.125 per cent solution they color rather lightly, and the 

 color deepens fairly rapidly. After heating in water until 

 all the grains are completely gelatinized, the solution 

 colors deeply and the gelatinized grains fairly deeply on 

 the addition of iodine. After boiling for 2 minutes the 

 solution colors very deeply and the grain-residues lightly 

 or not at all. The capsules all color a violet when an 

 excess of iodine is added. 



Staining Reactions. With gentian violet the grains stain very faintly at once and in 30 minutes 

 are fairly colored. The hilum and refractive lamella; do not appear to be affected. 



With safranin the grains stain very faintly at once and in 30 minutes arc stained light to fair. A 

 tint seems to be present in the hilum and refractive lamellaj which are unaffected by the gentian violet. 



Temperature Reaction. The temperature of gelatinization is 58.9 to 60.1 C, mean 59.5. 



Effects of Various Reagents. With chloral hydrate-iodine the grains begin to react at once. 

 A few are gelatinized in 13/^ minutes, the majority in 4 minutes, and all in 5 minutes. The entire 

 grain is at once colored either a reddish violet or an old-rose, a border of deeper shade forming directly 

 within the outer limiting layer; and either a dark transverse line or a ring appears near the hilum 

 in many grains. Tinted, cloud-like masses in some grains stream from the distal end towards the 

 proximal end; while in others a dehcate, elongated, granular ring forms a short distance within the 

 dark-blue border. The grain continues to swell, and one or more protuberances are formed at the 

 distal end or at either corner of the distal margin, and a knob-like swelling now starts at the proxi- 

 mal end. From these masses gelatinization proceeds towards the center, pushing before them a 

 thin, colorless mass which forms a line of demarcation between the gelatinized and non-gelatinized 

 portions of the grain. Finally, the entire grain is gelatinized and appears much enlarged and some- 

 what irregular in outline, but retains the general shape of the untreated grain. Either a light, 

 translucent area or a transverse line is frequently found at the hilum. 



With chromic acid the grains begin to react immediately; many are dissolved in 10 seconds 

 and all in 15 seconds. The hilum l^ecomes very distinct and a bubble is usually formed here. The 

 proximal end elongates very rapidly and ruptures, and the whole grain is quickly dissolved. The 

 reaction is so rapid that it is impossible to describe it minutely. 



Curve of Reaction-Intensities of Starch of 



FritiUaria meleagris. 



