GENUS ADONIS. 



871 



Chan No. 383. 



Tlio hUuvi is a noii-rofractivo spot, ccoontric in all tlie Riaiiis in which it could be distinguished. 

 It may l)o round, Icntirular, or triangular with rounded angles, with sometimes a depression passing 

 diagonallj' from the hilum. 



No lamclke are visible. 



The grains vary in size from 0.75 to Un. The common sizes are 9 by 7n and 6 by 6m in length 

 and breadth. 



Polariscopic Properties. The figure is eccentric. Its lines are thick and sometimes straight, 

 but often bent. It is small and very difficult to determine in most grains. 



The degree of polarization is low to fair, varying in different grains and often in the same aspect 

 of a grain. In the majority of grains polarization is low. 



With selcnUe the quadrants are well defined in some grains, usually irregular in shape, and 

 unequal in size. The colors arc pure and bright in a few grains, usually apparently pure but dull. 



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

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

 cent solution they color fairly deeply, which color deepens 

 rapidly. After heating in water until all of the grains 

 are completely gelatinized the solution colors fairly and 

 the gelatinized grains very deeply, on the addition of 

 iodine. After boiling for 2 minutes, the solution colors 

 very deeply and the grain-residues lightly or not at all. 

 The capsules all color a violet on the addition of an 

 excess of iodine. 



Staining Reactions. With gentian violet and with 

 safranin the grains begin to stain at once very lightly 

 and in 30 minutes they arc very lightly stained. 



Temperature Reaction. The temperature of gelatini- 

 zation is 54 to 55 C, mean 54.5. 



Effects of Various Reagents. With chloral hydrate- 

 iodine reaction begins at once and is over in 45 seconds. 

 It begins at the distal end, which becomes dark and then 

 swells, and from here the process extends about the mar- 

 gin of the grain, and then inward, and the whole grain 



swells. The gelatinized grains consist of a large, light space in the interior surrounded by a com- 

 paratively thin, dark, margmal portion. They are fairly large and retam much of the original form. 



The reaction with chromic acid begins at once and is over in 6 seconds. It is impossible to 

 determine the separate steps of this reaction. 



The reaction with pyrogallic acid begins at once and is over in 12 seconds. It is impossible to 

 make out the separate steps of this reaction. The gelatinized grains are large, thin-walled, and re- 

 tain some of their original form. The capsule is thin, and somewhat wrinkled and folded. 



The reaction with ferric chloride begins in a few seconds and is over in a minute. It begins at 

 the distal end and at the comers or more prominent parts of the margin. The starch at these points 

 becomes gelatinous and the reaction spreads upward and inward over the rest of the grain, until 

 only the proximal end is not gelatinized. This part is sometimes divided into several pieces, which 

 gelatinize separately. The gelatinized grains are large and much distorted. The capsule is sac- 

 culated, folded, and wrinkled. 



With Purdy's solution the reaction begins at once and is over in 10 seconds. It is impossible 

 to determine the different steps of this reaction. The gelatinized grains are large and often much 

 distorted. The capsule is folded, wrinkled, and sometimes sacculated. 



Curve of Reaction-Intensities of Starch of Adonis 

 amurensis. 



NOTES ON THE STARCHES OF RANUNCULACE/E. 



The starch of Adonis bears a closer resemblance in its histological characters to R.ficaria than 

 to R. bxdbosus; but in comparison with the former the grains show a marked tendency to roundness 

 and to a much smaller size. In the reactions, the most noticeable differences are noted in Adonis 

 having a relatively low reactivity with the anilines, a lower temperature of gelatinization, and 

 greater sensitivity to the chemical reagents. 

 57 



