GENUS TRITONIA (MONTBRETIA). 727 



Staining Reactions. With gentian violet the grains begin to stain very lightly in 2 minutes, but 

 after 30 minutes the color has not noticeably deepened. 



With safranin the grains begin to stain light at once and in 30 minutes are fairly colored. 



Temperature Reaction. The temperature of gelatinization is 82 to 83 C, mean 82.5. 



Effects of Various Reagents. With chloral hydrate-iodine reaction begins in the smaller grains 

 in 30 seconds, and in many of the larger grains in 2 minutes, by which time some of the smaller 

 grains are completely gelatinized. About two-thirds of the larger grains are gelatinized in 8 minutes 

 and all are gelatinized in 25 minutes. Neither hilum nor lamellae are distinct. The grains first 

 color a very dark violet. Then the entire margin becomes a deep indigo color, and this process 

 extends inward over the entire grain. The swollen grains are not large, are of a uniform dark color, 

 and retain much of the original form of the grain. 



The reaction with chromic acid begins in a few grains in 30 seconds. It is general in 13^ minutes 

 and all are dissolved in 20 minutes. The hilum becomes distinct, but not the lamellae. The inner 

 part of the grain is converted into a gelatinous mass. The outer part forms a thick, striated ring 

 which later divides into two parts, an outer which is thin and may be folded and distorted, and an 

 inner which is thicker and shows fine striae and concentric bands. The outer part is dissolved at 

 the proximal end, and the space between the outer and inner parts increases until they are often 

 completely separated. The inner part, which has grown much thinner, also dissolves at the proxi- 

 mal end, and the gelatinized starch of the interior flows out and dissolves, followed by solution of 

 the remaining part of the ring. 



The reaction with pyrogallic add begins in 15 minutes, but is very slight. After 30 minutes there 

 is not much change, and after 45 minutes only a few grains are completely gelatinized. The hilum 

 becomes distinct, and some of the lamellae may be made out. The hilum swells, and fine striae appear 

 running throughout the grain. The inner portion passes into a gelatinous mass, and the margin is 

 formed into a thick, finely striated ring, which gradually becomes clear and thinner. The gelatinized 

 grains are not very large, not folded or wrinkled, and retain much of the original form of the grain. 



With ferric chloride about one-fourth of the grains show some reaction in 4 minutes and all 

 are partially gelatinized in 10 minutes. The reaction is practically completed in 40 minutes, it 

 being incomplete in very few grains. The hilum at first is not distinct, but later becomes so. The 

 lamellae are invisible. The hilum swells, and fine radial striae appear throughout the grain. The 

 inner part is converted readily into a gelatinous mass. The outer part first forms a finely striated 

 ring, which becomes thinner and clearer as the grain swells. The swollen grains are fairly large, 

 rounded, and not wrinkled or folded. 



With Purdy's solution a number of grains become gelatinous at once. The reaction is general 

 in nearly all in 2 minutes; it reaches its limit in 16 minutes in about one-fourth of the grains, and 

 in about three-fourths in 45 minutes. It is very similar to that with pyrogallic acid, and is not 

 complete in all the grains in an hour. 



STARCH OF TRITONIA CROCATA VAR. LILACINA. (Plate 71, figs. 423 and 424. Chart 280.) 



Histological Characteristics. Inform the grains are mostly or solely simple and isolated, with the 

 exception of aggregates or compounds in the form of doublets and triplets, rarely the latter. The 

 doublets usually consist of components of unequal size and most of them are made up of one large 

 grain with a small grain partially embedded, giving this part of the grain the appearance of pro- 

 tuberances. Grains having pressure facets are uncommon, and the facets may be very shallow 

 depressions and hexagonal, like the honeycomb. There are some clumps made up of the smaller 

 medium-sized grains. The surface of the grains is rounded and tends to be quite regular in outline. 

 The most conspicuous forms of isolated grains are spherical, and transitional forms appear between 

 them and the ovoid. There are rarely ellipsoidal and triangular forms representing doublets and 

 triplets, and the doublets consisting of a combination of a large and a small grain are broadly ovoid. 

 These grains very closely resemble those of T. crocata; they are rounded in all aspects and appear 

 to be of the same diameter as width. 



The hilum is indistinct unless it is brought out with Purdy's solution or other reagent. Then 

 it appears to be a small round spot, centric or slightly eccentric. It may be double, triple, or quad- 

 ruple. They may be arranged regularly at equal distances from one another, or irregiilarlj', so that 

 one is at a greater or less distance than the others. It is sometimes fissured slightly. Apparently 

 the hilum is always situated in a homogeneous smooth space which is without lamellation. 

 48 



