562 STARCHES OF LILIACEiE. 



lieating in water until all the grains are completely gelatinized, the solution colors fairly and the 

 swollen grains deeply on the addition of iodine. After boiling for 2 minutes the solution colors 

 very deeply, the grain-residues lightly or not at all. The capsules all color a red-violet with an 

 excess of iodine. 



Staining Reactions. With (jentian violet and with safranin the grains begin to stain slightly 

 at once and in 30 minutes they are lightly stained, some more than others. 



Temperature Reaction. The temperature of gelatinization is 51.4 to 53.9 C, mean 52.65. 



Effects of Various Reagents. With chloral hydrate-iodine the reaction begins in 15 seconds and 

 is over in 3 minutes. It begins at the distal end and at any prominences on the margin of the grain, 

 at which points the grain becomes dark and swells out somewhat irregularly, progressing around 

 both sides until it is near the hilum. Then the hilum swells, and the marginal starch at the proximal 

 end is formed into a thick, rather long, rounded projection. This reaction spreads downward on 

 each side and so meets the reaction of the sides and distal end. A dark, irregularly swollen band 

 is thus formed which incloses a light and as yet ungelatinized central portion. This central part 

 is rapidly gelatinized. The swollen grains are large, usually of a uniformly dark color, except at the 

 proximal end, where there is a round, light space. They are somewhat distorted, but retain some 

 of the original form of the grain. 



Reaction with chromic acid begins at once and is over in 12 seconds. It is so rapid that it is 

 impossible to clearly make out the steps, but it generally appears to take the following course: 

 The hilum and the proximal end of the grain swell very greatly, the rest of the starch passes into 

 a liquid or semiliquid mass, except a thin, transparent layer at the extreme margin, which forms 

 a crumpled and distorted capsule, which is dissolved at one end, and the gelatinized contents flow 

 out and are chssolved, followed by solution of the rest of the capsule. 



Reaction with pyrogallic acid begins at once and is over in about 12 seconds. It is so rapid 

 that the separate steps can not be satisfactorily determined. In the main it appears to consist 

 of a rapid swelling of the hilum and proximal end, followed by the gelatinization of the rest of the 

 grain, the swelling of the whole grain, and the formation of a thin, transparent layer of starch at 

 the margin, into a distorted capsule crumpled and wrinkled at the distal end. 



The reaction with ferric chloride begins in many grains in a few seconds and is over in 2 minutes. 

 The reaction starts at the prominences on the sides and at the distal end, the starch here becoming 

 gelatinous and swelling out irregularly, followed by swelling of the hilum and the proximal end. 

 Then the inner starch is divided by internal fissures into several small pieces that widely separate 

 from one another and then gelatinize. The gelatinized grains are very large, irregular, and do not 

 retain much of the original form of the gi-ains. 



Reaction with Purdy's solution begins at once and is complete in 15 seconds. It is impossible 

 to clearly distinguish all the steps, but in the essential features it appears to correspond qualitatively 

 with the reaction with pjrogallic acid. 



STARCH OF ERYTHRONIUM DENS-CANIS VAR. GRANDIFLORUM. 

 (Plate 39, figs. 231 and 232. Chart 1.54.) 



Histological Characteristics. In form the grains are simple and isolated, with the exception of 

 a few clumps. No doublets or other aggregates were observed, although pressure facets were found 

 on a few of the isolated grains. The surface is rather irregular and quite varied, the irregularities 

 being due to the same causes as noted for E. dens-canis. In some grains the protuberances are long 

 and finger-like. The conspicuous forms are elongated ovoid to club-shaped, oyster-shell-shaped, 

 and flint arrow-head-shaped; also forms resembling the slipper animalcule, pyriform, round, and 

 many that are indefinite. 



The hilum is a distinct refractive spot having a range of eccentricity from one-fifth to one- 

 sixth, usually one-sixth, of the longitudinal axis. There is generally a small cavity or a short fis- 

 sure at the hilum, the fissure frequently being transverse, but sometimes diagonal. Two short, 

 single fissures may radiate from the hilum or its position. 



The lamella: are rather distinct, complete, elliptical or circular rings around the hilum. Beyond 

 the hilum they assume the form of the outline of the grain. They are usually more distinct near 

 the distal end. The number is difficult to determine, but some grains appear to have 26. 



The size of the small, round grains is 4 by 4,u, and of the narrow, elongated type of the larger 

 grains 46 by 30/^ in length and breadth. The common size is 30 by 12/i in length and breadth. 



