GENUS NARCISSUS. 671 



The degree of polarization is high. It varies in different grains, in different aspects of the same 

 grain, and often in different parts of the same aspect of a grain. It is not quite so high as that of 

 the grains of X. horsfieldii. 



With selenite the quachants are usually well defined, are irregular in shape, and unequal in size. 

 The colors are generally' pure. 



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

 more than others; with 0.125 per cent solution they color fairly and the color deepens slowly. The 

 coloration is of the same ilepth as that of the grains of A'', horsfieldii. After heating in water until 

 the grains are completely gelatinized, the solution colors fairly deeply and the grains deeply on 

 the addition of iodine. After boiling for 2 minutes the solution colors very deeply and the grain- 

 residues much less deeply. With an excess of iodine the capsules become a red-violet, and most 

 of them contain some blue-reacting starch. 



Staining Reactions. With gentian violet the grains begin to stain at once very lightly and after 

 30 minutes are fairly stained, some more than others. The color is slightly less than that of the 

 grains of N. horsfieldii. 



With safranin the grains begin to stain at once very lightlj' and after 30 minutes are lightly 

 stained, some slightly more than others. The color is less than that of the grains of A'', horsfieldii. 



Temperature Reaction. The temperature of gelatinizatlon is 73 to 75 C, mean 74. 



Effects of Various Reagents. With chloral hydrate-iodine reaction begins in some grains in 45 

 seconds and is fairly general in 3 minutes. About one-fourth are gelatinized in 11 minutes, one- 

 third in 20 minutes, and three-fourths in 45 minutes. The reaction is qualitatively the same as 

 that of the grains of N. horsfieldii. 



Reaction vrith chromic acid begins in 45 seconds and is over in 5 minutes. It is qualitatively 

 the same as that of the grains of A'', horsfieldii. 



The reaction with pyrogallic acid is nearly general in 45 seconds. About three-fourths are 

 gelatinized in 10 minutes and all in 13 minutes. The reaction is qualitatively the same as that of 

 the gi-ains of A'^. horsfieldii. 



The reaction with /erne chloride begins in a few grains in 2 minutes. About half are gelatinized 

 in 10 minutes, three-fourths in 22 minutes, and practically all in 45 minutes. The reaction is 

 qualitatively the same as that of the grains of A'', horsfieldii. 



Reaction mth Purdy's solution begins slightly in 2 minutes. A few are partially gelatinized in 

 8 minutes, one-fifth in 20 minutes, and one-third in 45 minutes. The reaction is qualitatively the 

 same as that of the grains of A'^. horsfieldii. 



STARCH OF NARCISSUS INCOMPARABILIS. (Plate 60, figs. 355 and 356. Chart 233.) 



Histological Characteristics. In forin the grains are usually simple. Occasionally compound 

 grains and aggregates are seen. Pressure facets are rarely noted. The surface of the grains is 

 irregular, owing to unequal development, which is sometimes in the form of rounded protrusions 

 or nipple-hke processes. The conspicuous forms are the ovoid to oval and elhptical; also spherical, 

 triangular \\ith rounded angles, lenticular, reniform, irregularly quadrangular, pol3'gonal, rod- 

 like, and various irregular shapes. The triangular, quadrangular, reniform, and the broader forms: 

 are one-half to three-fom-ths as thick as they are broad; and the other forms, as a whole, are of the 

 same thickness as breadth. 



The hilum is a not very distinct, small, round or lenticular spot. It is eccentric about two- 

 fifths of the longitudinal axis of the grain. It is commonly fissured, and the fissure may be a small, 

 ragged, transverse line, or a cross, or 3-arnied figure. 



The lamellce are, as a rule, invisible, but when they can be seen they appear as rather coarse, 

 regular, continuous rings tending to follow the irregularities of the margin. The number could not 

 be determined. 



The grains vary in size from 2 to 42/i. The common size is 28ju. 



Polariscopic Properties. The figure is usually eccentric and, as a rule, not clear-cut. In some 

 grains its lines are wider and not clearlj' outlined and are often somewhat bent and otherwise distorted. 



The degree of polarization is high. It varies greatly in different grains, in different aspects of the 

 same grain, and in different parts of the same aspect. It is lower than that of the grains of A^. horsfieldii. 



With selenite the quadrants are usually well defined, irregular in shape, and unequal in size. 

 The colors are usually pure. 



