520 



STARCHES OF LILIACE^E. 



Chart No. 127. 



The grains vary in size from 4 to 48m. The common size is 32yu. The dimensions of elliptical 

 grains are commonly 25 by 15^, and those of the pyriform grains 34 by 26^ in length and breadth. 



Pohriscopic Properties. The figure is eccentric, distinct, and generally clear-cut. The more 

 irregular the grain the less well defined the figure. Sometimes one or more lines are less well defined 

 than the others. The lines are often bent and otherwise distorted and placed at varying angles 

 to one another. 



The degree of polarization is high, varying in different grains and somewhat in different aspects 

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



With selenite the quadrants are clearly outlined, unequal in size, and regular or irregular in 

 shape, according to the degree of regularity of the outline of the grain. The colors in most cases 

 are fairly pure. 



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

 a blue-violet; with 0.125 per cent solution they color at once and the color deepens rapidly. The 

 shade is slightly deeper than that of the grains of C. 

 nitidus. After heating until all the grains 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 much more deeply and the 

 gelatinized grain-residues much less, or not at all. All 

 the capsules color a red-violet with a slight excess of 

 iodine, and most of them still retain some blue-reacting 

 starch in the proximal end. 



Staining Reactions. With gentian violet the grains 

 begin to stain very slight!}' at once and in 30 minutes 

 are deeply stained. The color is deeper in some than in 

 others. It is deeper than in the grains of C. nitidus. 



With safranin the grains begin to stain at once and 

 in 30 minutes are deeply stained. The shade is deeper 

 than that of the grains of C. nitidus. 



Temperature Reaction. The temperature of gelatini- 

 zation is 57.2 to 59 C, mean 58.1. 



Effects of Various Reagents. With chloral hydrate- 

 iodine some of the smaller grains react in a minute and the 

 reaction is general in Ij^ minutes. About half are gelatinized in 3 minutes, all but a few in 7 min- 

 utes, and all in 10 minutes. The reaction is qualitatively the same as that of the grains of C. ni'idus. 



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. 



With pyrogallic acid some of the smaller grains begin to react at once. The reaction is general 

 in 20 seconds and is over in 10 minutes. The reaction is qualitatively the same as that of the grains 

 of C. nitidus. 



With ferric chloride almost all the grains begin to react in Ij^ minutes, most are gelatinized in 5 

 minutes, and all in 8 minutes. The reaction is qualitatively the same as that of the grains of C. nilidus. 



Reaction with Purdy's solution begins at once and is over in a minute. The reaction is quali- 

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



STAECH OF CALOCHORTUS SPLENDENS. (Plate 30, figs. 179 and 180. Chart 128.) 



Histological Characteristics. In form the grains are simple, with few exceptions isolated, and 

 without pressure facets. The surface is irregular and varied owing to rounded projections from 

 the margin, which in some instances are formed by amorphous additions, and in others by project- 

 ing overdeveloped lamellae, which constitute a part of the primary grain. The conspicuous forms 

 are the round pyriform and the short and broad elliptical, ovoid, fan-shaped, and irregularly quad- 

 rangular grains. The grains are somewhat flattened and some are narrower at one end, usually the 

 proximal, than at the other. 



The hilum is usually a distinct, comparatively small, round or elliptical spot, eccentric at about 

 one-fifth the longitudinal diameter of the grain. It was never observed to be double or multiple. 

 It may be fissured. The fissuration is usually in the form of a small, single, transverse line; but 



Curve of Reaction-Intensities of Starch of Calochortus 

 luteus var. oculatus. 



