572 



STARCHES OF LILIACEiE. 



is occasionally irregular, which is chiefly due to the presence of secondary sets of lamelljB 

 placed at varj-ing angles to the primary set, and to one or more small roimdetl protuberances or 

 nipple-like processes due to irregular development of the primary grain. The conspicuous forms 

 are ovoid, often with squared and flattened distal end, almost clam-shell-shaped, pyriform, ellip- 

 soidal, and nearly round. There are also ovoid with pointed distal end, imperfect rhomboidal, 

 and dome-shaped grains. When viewed on edge some of the grains are narrower at the distal than 

 the proximal end. There are more of the almost clam-shell-shaped grains than in H. orienlalis var. 

 alba superbissima. 



The hiltini may be observed as a distinct, round or lenticular, refractive spot which is usually 

 two-fifths to one-third eccentric. In the round forms it is centric. The hiluni is often fissured, 

 and these fissures are of similar character and arrange- 

 ment and occur in about as great a proportion of grains 

 as in H. orientalis var. alba superbissima. 



The lamellw are of similar character and arrange- 

 ment to those of H. orientalis var. alba superbissitna. 

 There are about 12 to 14 in the larger grains. 



The grains vary in size; the smaller are 3 by 2fi, the 

 larger are 46 by 30n; the common size is 22 by 20/i in 

 length and breadth. 



Polariscopic Properties. The figure is usually eccen- 

 tric. The centric figure is less frequent than in H. orien- 

 talis var. alba superbissima. The lines are more often bent, 

 and the double or multiple figure is not so clearly marked. 



The degree of polarization is high. There is the var- 

 iation among the grains noted for H. orientalis var. alba 

 superbissima, but there is not so large a proportion in 

 which polarization is very high. The variation in the 

 same aspect of a given grain is the same as that noted 

 for H. orientalis var. alba superbissima. 



With selenite the quadrants are fairly well defined, 

 usually somewhat irregular in shape, and unequal in size. The quadrants are not quite so clean-cut, 

 and in rather more grains they are irregular in shape and unequal in size than in H. orientalis var. 

 alba superbissima. The colors are generally pure. 



Iodine Reactions. With 0.25 per cent Lugol's solution the grains color a rather deep blue- 

 violet, which deepens gradually, the smaller grains becoming deeper than the larger ones. The 

 color is about the same as in H. orientalis var. alba supei'bissima. With 0.125 per cent solution the 

 grains color a light blue-violet which deepens rather rapidly. The tint is about the same as in H. 

 orientalis var. alba superbissima. After heating in water until all the grains are gelatinized, the 

 solution colors a deep blue and the grains a bright blue on the addition of iodine. The color of the 

 solution is deeper and that of the grains a purer blue than in //. orientalis var. alba superbissima. 

 If the grains are l)oiled for 2 minutes and then treated with iodine, the solution becomes a deep blue 

 with a reddish tint and the grain-residues a light, pure blue. With an excess of iodine the capsules 

 color a deep heliotrope to a wine red. There are not so many capsules of the latter color as in H. 

 orientalis var. alba superbissima. 



Staining Reactions. With gentian violet the grains color slightly at once and in 30 minutes 

 are fairly colored. The tint is slightly deeper than in H. orientalis var. alba superbissima. 



With safranin the grains show a faint trace of color at once and in 30 minutes are fairly deep. 

 The color is slightly deeper than in H. orientalis var. alba superbissima. 



Temperature Reaction. ^The temperature of gelatinization is 68 to 70 C, mean 69. 



Effects of Various Reagents. With chloral liydrate-iodi7ie reaction begins immediately. A few 

 grains are gelatinized in a minute, the majority in 3 minutes, antl all but rare resistant grains in 5 

 minutes. The reaction is usually comj)lete in the latter within 10 to 15 minutes, rarely 20 minutes. 

 The reaction is qualitatively the same as in H. orientalis var. alba superbissima. 



With chromic acid reaction begins at once. Some grains are dissolved in a minute, nearly 

 all in \]/2 minutes, and all in 23^ minutes. The reaction is qualitatively the same as in H. orientalis 

 var. alba superbissinui. 



Curve of Reaction-Intensitiea of Starch of Hyacinthus 

 orientalis var. albulus (white). 



