GENUS CALOCHORTUS. 



519 



Chart No. 126. 



The degree of polariznlion is high, varying somewhat in different grains and also in different 

 aspects of the same grain. It is, as a rule, higher than that of the grains of C. nitidus. 



With selenite the quadrants are usually well defined, unequal in size, and usually irregular in 

 form. The colors arc fairly pure. 



Iodine Reactions. With 0.25 per cent Lugol's solution the grains color at once very deeply 

 blue-violet; with 0.125 per cent solution they color immediately and the color deepens rapidly. 

 The coloration is about the same as that of the grains of C. nitidus. After heating the grains mitil 

 all are completely gelatinized the solution colors fairly and the grains very deeply on the addition 

 of iodine. After boiling for 2 minutes the solution colors more deeply, but the grain-residues much 

 less deeply. The capsules all color a red-violet with a slight excess of iodine, and all still retain 

 much blue-reacting starch in the proximal end. 



Staining Reactions. With gentian violet the grains 

 begin to stain at once and in 30 minutes they are fairly 

 stained. The color is deeper than that of the grains of 

 C. nitidus. 



With safranin the grains begin to stain at once and 

 in 30 minutes thej- are fairlj^ deeply stained, some more 

 than others. The color is deeper than that of the grains 

 of C. nitidus. 



Temperature Reaction. The temperature of gelatini- 

 zation is 62 to 64 C, mean 63. 



Effects of Various Reagents. With chloral hydrate- 

 iodine the reaction is general in about 30 seconds although 

 the smaller grains begin to react before this. About half 

 are completely gelatinized in 2 minutes and all in 7 min- 

 utes. The reaction is qualitatively the same as that of 

 the grains of C. nitidus. 



The reaction with chromic acid begins at once and 

 is over in a minute. It is qualitatively the same as that 

 of the grains of C. nitidus. 



The reaction with pyrogallic acid is general in 30 seconds, and is entirel}- over in 10 minutes, 

 but some grains are not completely gelatinized. The reaction is qualitatively the same as that of 

 the grains of C. nitidus. 



With ferric chloride some grains begin to react in a minute and the reaction is general in 2J^ 

 minutes. Almost all are gelatinized in 5 minutes and all in minutes. The reaction is qualitatively 

 the same as that of the grains of C. nitidus. 



The reaction with Purdy's solution begins in 15 seconds and is over in 3 minutes, It is quali- 

 tativelv the same as C. nitidus. 



STARCH OF CALOCHORTUS LUTEUS VAR. OCULATUS. (Plate 30, figa. 177 and 178. Chart 127.) 



Histological Characteristics. In form the grains are simple, isolated, and without pressure 

 facets. Their surfaces are varied and frequently very irregular, owing to uneven elevations and 

 depressions and to amorphous additions which take the form of rounded protuberances and nipple 

 proccs.ses. The conspicuous form is short elliptical, with many variations of fan-shaped, pyriform, 

 irregularly quadrangular, ovoid, round, and triangular grains. In a few grains the transverse diam- 

 eter is longer than the longitudinal, even much longer; such grains are also very irregular in outline. 



The hilum is a fairly distinct, small spot, round or elliptical, and situated eccentrically about 

 one-fifth of the longitudinal diameter and in or near the median line. It is never observed to be 

 double or multiple. It may be fissured, in which case the fissure is usually a single, small, distinct, 

 transverse line. Rarely the fissuration consists of two lines extending down from the hilum, one 

 on each side. 



The lamellcB are fairly distinct and regular, rather fine, continuous lines, which tend to follow 

 the outline of the margin, with some irregularities due to inequalities of the surface. The projec- 

 tions from the surfaces of the grains are formed either by enlarged lamellae that constitute a part 

 of the primary grain, or by amorphous additions. The lamellae near the distal end are not so fine 

 but somewhat more distinct than those near the hilum. There are 18 to 20 on the larger grains. 

 35 



