GENUS ERYTHRONIUM. 



563 



Curve of Reaction-Intensities of Starch of Erythronium 

 dens-canis var. grandiflorum. 



The size of the broader, elongated grains is 46 by 38m in length and breadth, the common size 

 being 28 by 24^ in length and breadth. 



Polariscopic Properties. The figure is eccentric, distinct, and fairly clear-cut. Its lines arc 

 rather thick, sometimes bent, and occasionally bisected. 



The degree of polarization is fair. It varies somewhat in dilferent grains and in the same aspect of 

 a given grain. In many grains it is slightlj' higher and there is a greater variation than in E. dens-canis. 



With selenite the ciuadrants are fairly well defined, very often irregular in shape and uncrjual in 

 size. The blue is pure, the yellow not entirely so. The colors are brighter than in E. ckns-cnnis. 



Iodine Reactions. With 0.2o per cent LugoFs solu- 

 tion the grains color a fairlj- deep blue-violet; with 0.125 

 per cent solution they color lightly and the color does not 

 deepen rapidly. It is the same as that of the grains of 

 E. dens-ca?iis. After heating in water imtil 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 and 

 many of the grain-residues lightly or not at all. The cap- 

 sules all color a red-violet with a slight excess of iochne. 



Staining Reactions. With gentian violet the gi-ains 

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

 lightly stained. The color is slightly more than that of 

 the grains of E. dens-canis. 



With safranin the grains begin to stain lightly at once 

 and in 30 minutes they are rather lightly stained. The 

 color is the same as that of the gi-ains of E. dens-canis. 



Temperature Reaction. The temperature of gelatin- 

 ization is 53.2 to 55.1 C, mean 54.05. 



Effects of Various Reagents. With chloral hydrate- 

 iodine the reaction begins in most grains in 45 seconds. It is over in nearly all in 3 minutes and 

 in all in 5 minutes. The reaction is the same qualitative^ as that of the grains of E. dens-canis. 



Reaction with chromic acid begins at once and is over in 20 seconds. It is so rapid that the 

 steps can not satisfactorilj' be made out, but is probably the same qualitatively as that of the 

 grains of E. dens-canis. 



With pyrogallic acid the reaction begins at once and is over in 25 seconds. It is very quick, 

 and is probably the same qualitatively as that of the grains of E. dens-canis. 



Reaction with ferric chloride begins in a few grains in a few seconds and is over in 3} 2 niinutes. 

 It is the same qualitatively as that of the grains of E. dens-canis. 



Reaction vAih Purdy's solution begins at once and is over in 20 seconds. It is probablj- the 

 same qualitativelj' as that of the grains of E. dens-canis. 



STARCH OF ERYTHRONIUM AMERICANUM. (Plate 39, figs. 233 and 234. Chart 155.) 



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

 a few in aggregates, mostly in the form of doublets and a few clumps. Pressure facets are occasion- 

 ally observed on the isolated grains. The surface of most of the grains is regular. Irregularities 

 are found which are due to the causes noted under E. dens-canis. The conspicuous forms are ovoid, 

 rounded ovoid, pyriform, and triangular to clam-shell shape. Only few of the very minute forms 

 are round. In addition to these noted there are some oyster-shell-shaped, pecten-shell-shaped, 

 flint arrow-head-shaped, and various irregular grains, ^^ery large oyster-shell-shaped forms similar 

 to those rarely found in E. grandifioruyn are also rare. The broadened grains are flattened. 



The hihim is a bright, refractive spot similar to that in E. dens-canis. In the eccentric grains 

 it has a range of one-fifth to one-fourth, usually one-fifth, of the longitudinal a.xis. There is some- 

 times a transverse cleft or a small, irregular cavity at the hilum, from which occasionally two short, 

 almost straight fissures radiate. These fissures are sometimes diagonal and intersect each other, 

 forming a cross. 



The lamella are fairly distinct, fine, and usually form complete rings around the hilum; but 

 farther out they have the form of the outline of the grain and are probably incomplete near the 



