584 



STARCHES OF LILIACE^E. 



The conspicuous forms are round, oval, and ovoid, and transition forms to a few very large clam- 

 shell-shaped forms. When viewed on edge they are lenticular, flattened elliptical, or rounded wedge- 

 shaped. In comparison with M. hotryoides this grain is much smaller, both hila and lamelUe are 

 less conspicuous, and they have the appearance of a marked tendency to the spherical. 



The hiluvi is seldom conspicuous, and may be seen as a round or oval spot, centric in the round 

 forms, and eccentric two-fifths to one-third of the longitudinal axis in the larger forms; an eccentricity 

 of one-third is rare. Two hila occur quite often in a single grain. Rarely the hilum is fissured, and 

 an irregular cavity may be seen instead of the hilum. The fissure may be longitudinal or transverse; 

 or occasionally a small cross or an irregular figure may be found. 



The lamellce are distinct, rather coarse, complete rings near the hilum and somewhat finer but 

 very distinct near the distal and lateral margins. At these margins they may be more irregular 

 and also incomplete. In many of the grains two very distinct, coarse lamellse appear nearer the 

 hilum than the distal end. 



The size of the grain varies from 4 to 40;u. The 

 common size is 19 by 20^ in length and breadth. 



Polariscopic Properties. The figure is centric in the 

 round forms and eccentric in the other forms. It is dis- 

 tinct and fairly clear-cut. Its lines are rather thick and 

 become thicker towards the margin, and are rarely bent 

 or bisected. 



The degree of -polarization is high. It varies slightly 

 in different grains and in different aspects of the grain. 

 It is slightly higher than in M. hotryoides. 



With sclenite the quadrants are fairly well defined, 

 usually regular in form, and about equal in size. The 

 colors are pure. 



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

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

 cent solution they color fairly and the color deepens rap- 

 idly. The coloration is slightly less than that of the 

 grains of M. hotryoides. After heating in water until all 

 the grains are completely gelatinized, the solution colors 

 fairly and the grains deeply on the addition of iodine, 

 colors deeply and the grain-residues deeply to lightly, 

 excess of iodine. 



Staining Reactions. With gentian violet the grains begin to stain at once and in 30 minutes 

 they are deeply stained, liut not quite so deeply as the grains of M. hotryoides. 



With snfranin the grains begin to stain at once and in 30 minutes they are fairly deeply stained, 

 but not quite so deeply as the grains of M. hotryoides. 



Temperature Reaction. The temperature of gelatinization is 74.5 to 75 C, mean 74.75. 



Effects of Various Reagents. With chloral hydrate-iodine reaction begins in most grains in 30 

 seconds. About half are gelatinized in 6 minutes, four-fifths in 15 minutes, nearly all in 30 minutes, 

 and all in 50 minutes. The reaction is the same qualitatively as that of the grains of M. hotryoides. 



With chromic acid some of the grains begin to react in a very few seconds and all in 30 seconds, 

 and the reaction is complete in 3 minutes. It is the same qualitatively as that of the grains of M. 

 hotryoides. 



With pyrogallic acid some grains begin to react in 15 seconds and all in 45 seconds. All the grains 

 are partially and about two-fifths nearly completely gelatinized in 5 minutes, two-thirds are 

 completely gelatinized in 10 minutes, and all are completely gelatinized in 30 minutes. The 

 reaction is the same qualitatively as that of the grains of M. hotryoides. 



Reaction with ferric chloride begins in some grains in 30 seconds. Nearly all the grains are 

 gelatinized in 15 minutes and all in 25 minutes. The reaction is the same qualitatively as that 

 of the grains of M. hotryoides. 



Reaction with Ptirdy's solution begins in one-sixth of the grains in a few seconds and they are 

 gelatinized in a minute. All the grains begin to react in a minute and about half are completely 

 gelatinized in 30 minutes, with little subsequent reaction in an hour. 



VL VL 80' 



Curve of Reaction-Intensities of Starch of Muscari 

 racemosum. 



After boiling for 2 minutes the solution 

 The capsules all color red-violet with an 



