GENUS ERYTHRONIUM. 



565 



Chart No. 1 36. 



ovoid, pyriform, and variulioiis of the rounded, triangular type to the clam-shell and oyster-shell 

 shapes. Anionf;; the small grains there are more round or nearly round forms than in E. dens-canis, 

 but most of the grains of this group are cither ovoid or oval. The broad forms are flattened. Be- 

 sides the forms noted, there are some flint arrow-head or pecten-shell-shaped grains. 



The hihmi is a refractive spot which is centric in the small, round forms, but eccentric about 

 one-fifth, rarely one-fourth, in the elongated forms; usually with a transverse cleft or a small irreg- 

 ular cavitj', from which rarely two curved fissures proceed. It is not as distinct and refractive as 

 in E. dens-canis. 



The lamcllcc are usually indistinct. They form a complete ring around the hilum, but farther 

 out assume the shape of the grain. Towards the distal end they are probably incomplete. They 

 are more distinct in the clam-shell shape than in other forms. 



The size in length and breadth of the small, elongated grains is 8 by 4,11 ; of the large, elongated 

 grains 27 by 17yu; of the common size of the latter is 18 by Wn; the size of the large broad forms is 

 33 by 33iU in the longest and transverse diameters. The 

 common size of the large grains is 18 liy 21^ in length 

 and breadth. 



Polariscopic Properties. The figure is eccentric, ex- 

 cept in a few of the smallest round gi-ains. It is distinct 

 and fairly clean-cut. Its lines are thick and usuall.y 

 straight, but expand somewhat toward the distal and 

 proximal margins. 



The degree of polarization is rather low to fair. There 

 is some variation in the same aspect of a given grain. It 

 is less than in E. dens-canis, and is the lowest of all of 

 the erythroniums. 



With selenile the quadrants are fairly well defined, 

 irregular in shape, and unequal in size. The colors are 

 not quite pure. The blue is pure, but the yellow is not. 



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

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

 per cent solution they color lightly and the color does not 

 deepen rapidly. It is slightly more than that of the grains 

 of E. dens-canis. After heating in water until all th(? 

 grains arc completely gelatinized, the solution colors fairly and the swollen grains very deeply on the 

 addition of iodine. After boiling for 2 minutes the solution colors very deejily and most of the 

 grain-residues lightly or not at all. The capsules color a red-violet with a slight excess of iodine. 



Slainiiig Reactions. WUh gentian violet the grains begin to stain lightly at once and in 30 min- 

 utes 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 at once and in 30 minutes they are rather lightly stained. 

 The color is more than that of the grains of E. dens-canis. 



Temperature Reaction. The temperature of gelatinization is 52.1 to 54 C, mean 53.05. 



Effects of Various Reagents. With chloral hydrate-iodine the reaction begins in most grains in a few 

 seconds and is over in 1 J^ minutes. It is the same qualitatively as that of the grains of E. dens-canis. 



Reaction with chromic acid begins at once and is over in 10 seconds. It is so rapid that it is 

 impossible to distinguish the separate steps. 



The reaction with pyrogallic acid begins at once and is over in 10 seconds. It is so rapid that 

 it is impossible to distinguish the separate steps. 



Reaction with ferric chloride begins in manj' grains in a very few seconds and is over in Ij^ 

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



With Purdy's solution the reaction begins at once and is over in 10 seconds. It is so rapid that 

 it is impossible to distinguish the separate steps. 



STARCH OF ERYTHRONIUM CITRINUM. (Plate 40, figs. 237 and 238. Chart 157.) 



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

 of a few in small aggregates, generallj^ in the form of doublets and triplets, and a few clumps. Pres- 

 sure facets are found on some of the isolated grains. The grains are varied in form, but the surfaces 



Curve of Reaction-Intensities of Starch of Erythronium 



grandiflorum. 



