650 



STARCHES OF AMARYLLIDACE^. 



Reaction with ferric chloride begins in a few grains in 30 seconds. A small number are gelat- 

 inized in 2 minutes, about two-fifths in 5 minutes, about four-fifths in 15 minutes, and all but rare 

 resistant grains in 30 minutes; the latter (one in many hundred) are ungelatinizcd in 60 minutes. 

 The reaction is qualitatively the same as in H. undulata. 



The reaction with Piirdy's solution begins in a few grains immediately. A small number are 

 gelatinized in 30 seconds, about one-fourth in 5 minutes, and about three-fifths in 15 minutes. There 

 is slight progress in 30 minutes, and about four-fifths are gelatinized in 60 minutes. The reaction 

 is qualitatively the same as in H. undulata. 



Differentiation of Certain Starches of the Genus Hymenocallis. 



Histological Charactersitics. 

 Conspicuous Forms. 



H. undulata: Usually simple, few compounds and aggre- 

 gates, often irregular in outline. Ovoid, ellip- 

 soidal, nearly round, dome-shaped, ellipsoidal with 

 squared distal end, and bean-shaped. 



H. calathina: Essentially the same as in H. undulata, ex- 

 cept less irregular, more rounded, and broader. 



Hilum Form, Number, and Position. 



H. undulata: Form usually a small rounded cavity or 

 cleft at hilum; hilum may appear as a clear, round 

 or elliptical spot. Position centric or eccentric; 

 eccentric frequently about 0.40, rarely 0.33 to 0.16 

 of the longitudinal axis. 



H. calathina: Form the same as in H. undulata. Position 

 centric or eccentric; eccentric frequently about 

 0.44, rarely 0.25, of the longitudinal axis. 



Lamellce General Characteristics and Number. 



H. undulata: Not distinct, coarse to fairly fine. 8 to 14. 

 H. calathina: Less indistinct than in H. undulata. 20 to 22. 



Size. 



H. undulata: From 3 to 40/(, commonly 24 by 16^. 

 H. calathina: From 4 to 44ai, commonly 24 by 22^. 



PoLARiscopic Properties. 

 Figure. 



H. undulata: Centric, eccentric, or bean type; lines rather 



broad, straight, bent, or bisected. 

 //. calathina: The same as in H. undulata, but more 



often straight. 



Degree oj Polarization. 



H. undulata: High, varies from high to very high. 

 H. calathina: High, varies from high to very high, rather 

 higher than in H. undulata. 



Polarization with Selenile Quadrants and Colors. 



H. undulata: Quadrants well defined, usually irregular 



in shape and unequal in size. Colors generally 



pure. 

 H. calathina: Quadrants the same as in H. undulata, but 



more grains wHth quadrants of regular shape. 



Colors generally pure, more often pure than in H. 



undulata. 



Iodine Reactions. 



Intensity and Color. 

 H. undulata: Deep; blue-violet. 



H. calathina: Deep, little deeper th.^n in H. undulata; 

 blue-violet, more blue than in H. undulata. 



Staining Reactions. 

 With Gentian Violet. 

 H. undulata: Light. 

 H. calathina: Light, hghter than in //. undulata. 



With Safranin. 

 H. undulata: Light. 

 H. calathina: Light, lighter than in H. undulata. 



Temperature of Gelatinization. 



H. undulata: 70 to 72 C, mean 71. 

 H. calathina: 68 to 69 C, mean 68.5. 



Effects of Various Reagents. 

 Reaction unth Chloral Hydrate-Iodine. 

 H. undulata: Begins immediately; complete in practi- 

 cally all in 7 minutes. 

 H. calathina: Begins immediately; complete in practi- 

 cally all in 5 minutes. 



Reaction ivith Chromic Acid. 



H. undulata: Begins immediately; complete in practi- 

 cally all in 5 minutes. 



H. calathina: Begins immediately; complete in all in 3 

 minutes. 



Reaction with Pyrogallic Acid. 



H. undulata: Begins immediately; complete in practi- 

 cally all in 2 minutes. 



H. calathina: Begins immediately; complete in practi- 

 cally all in 1J^2 minutes. 



Reaction with Ferric Chloride. 

 H. undulata: Begins in a few in 30 seconds; complete in 



nine-tenths in 30 minutes, and in practically all 



in 60 minutes. 

 H. calathina: Begins in a few in 30 seconds; complete in 



practically all in 30 minutes. 



Reaction unth Purdy's Solution. 



H. undulata: Begins in a few at once; complete in seven- 

 tenths in 60 minutes. 



H. calathina: Begins in a few at once; complete in eight- 

 tenths in 60 minutes. 



NOTES ON THE STARCHES OF HYMENOCALLIS. 



The two starches differ but little in their histological characters, the grains of H. undulata 

 being somewhat more irregular and not so rounded and broad, the hilum less eccentric, and the 

 lamellje more distinct. In the reaction intensities the records are very close, the most noticeable 

 difference being in the temperature of gelatinization, amounting to 2.5. H. undulata exhibits the 

 lower degree of polarization, the lower iodine reaction, the higher aniline reactions, the higher tem- 

 perature of gelatinization, and the less sensitivity to all the chemical reagents. 



