GENUS CURCUMA. 



793 



aartNo. 331. 



GV S T CI CA PA FC P S CI PA CA 



PC PS 

 5 



The lamellce are usually not clearly demonstrable near the hilum, but occasionally in this 

 region a few fine circular rings may be observed. Most of the lamellaj follow the outline of the distal 

 margin and are probably incomplete. On grains of large size from 35 to 50 lamellae may be counted. 

 The lamellae are rather more distinct and can be counted over the entire surface in a larger number 

 of grains than in C. lunga. 



The size of the grains varies; the smaller are 9 by (5^; the larger are 50 by 16ai in length and 

 breadth. The common size is about 28 by 20m in length and breadth. 



Polariscopic Properties. The figure is very eccentric and usually indistinct at the point where 

 lines intersect. The arrangement and character of the lines are the same as in C. longa, but more 

 often bent. 



The degree of polarization is fair, a little higher than in C. longa, but the same variations are 

 observed. 



With selenile the quadrants are not clearly defined and are even more irregular than in C. longa. 

 The colors are generally not quite pure, although the blue is more often pm-e than in C. longa. 



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

 violet, which deepens gradually in most grains and quickly in others. The tint is deeper but brighter 

 than in C. longa and deepens more gradually. With 0.125 

 per cent solution the grains soon color a light reddish- 

 violet which deepens rather rapidly. The tint is deeper 

 at first than C. longa. but does not darken so much as in 

 that species. After heating in water until all the grains 

 are gelatinized and then adding iodine, the solution be- 

 comes a deep blue and the grains either a deep blue with 

 reddish tint or a deep blue-violet. The solution is rather 

 deeper in color than in C. longa, and the grains are 

 brighter and of a rather more reddish tint than in that 

 species. If the gelatinized grains are boiled for 2 minutes 

 and then treated with iodine, the solution colors very 

 deeply and the grains become a very light to fairly deep 

 bright blue, sUghtly deeper than in C. longa. With an 

 excess of iodine the grains color a very deep blue with 

 reddish tint and the capsules a light heliotrope to wine- 

 red. The tint is redder and brighter than in C. longa. 



Staining Reactions. With gentian violet and with saf- 

 ranin the grains begin to color shghtly at once and in 30 

 minutes they are fairly colored. They are slightly deeper 

 in tint and of a different shade than in C. longa, in which the color is probably affected by the yellow 

 coloring matter in the starch. 



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



Effects of Various Reagents. With chloral hydrate-iodine reaction begins immediately. A 

 small number of grains are gelatinized in 15 seconds, nearly all in 30 seconds, all in 40 seconds. The 

 reaction is qualitatively the same as in C. longa. 



Reaction begins at once with chromic acid. A few grains are dissolved in 2 minutes, more 

 than half in 5 minutes, nearly all in G minutes, and all in S}4 minutes. The reaction is qualitatively 

 the same as in C. longa. 



With pyrogallic acid reaction begins in a few grains in 30 seconds, a small number are gelatinized 

 in 5 minutes, and practically all are partially or completely gelatinized in 15 minutes. Most grains 

 are from one-third to two-fifths gelatinized in 30 minutes, and there is slight progress during the 

 remainder of the hour. The reaction is qualitatively the same as in C. longa. 



The reaction with ferric chloride begins in a few grains in a minute. A small number are gelat- 

 inized in 2 minutes, more than half in 3 minutes, about four-fifths in 5 minutes, nearly all in 6 

 minutes, and all but a few resistant grains in 7 minutes, in which latter the reaction is usually com- 

 plete in 10 minutes. It is qualitatively the same as in C. longa. 



Reaction with Purdy's solution begins in a few grains in a minute. A small number are gelat- 

 inized in 3 minutes, nearly all in 5 minutes, all but a few resistant grains in 6 minutes, in which 

 latter it is complete in 10 minutes. The reaction is qualitatively the same as in C. loTiga. 



Curve of Reaction-Intensities of Starch of Curcuma 

 petiolata. 



