NARCISSUS. 



71 



Table A 13 shows the reaction-intensities in percent- 

 ages of total starch gelatinized at definite intervals 

 (minutes). 



VELOCITY-REACTION CURVES. 



This section treats of the velocity-reaction curves 

 of the starches of Narcissus poeticus ornatus, N. poeticus 

 poetarum, N. poeticus herrick, and N. poeticus dante, 

 showing the quantitative differences in the behavior to- 

 ward different reagents at different time-intervals. 

 (Charts D 259 to D 264.) 



Conspicuous among the features of these charts are 

 the following : 



(1) In the five charts there is generally a manifest 

 tendency in each chart for all four curves to keep to- 

 gether, the only places where there is leaning toward a 

 well-marked separation are in the charts for chromic 

 acid and nitric acid at the 15-minute interval. In the 

 sulphuric-acid reaction gelatinization proceeds with such 

 rapidity that there is not, except in one instance, what 

 can be accepted as an entirely satisfactory differentiation 

 of any one starch from any other, this instance being the 

 starch of N. poeticus poetarum, which reacted with dis- 

 tinctly less rapidity than the other three (which react 

 with identical intensity) during the first three minutes. 



(2) The four curves bear varying relations to each 

 other in the different reactions. 



(3) The curve of N. poeticus ornatus is the highest 

 of the four and well separated from the other three in 

 the reactions with chloral hydrate and chromic acid ; the 

 lowest at first and intermediate finally with nitric acid ; 

 and practically the same, but with a lower tendency than 

 in the other three, with pyrogallic acid, although in this 

 reaction the curves of 2V". poeticus ornatus, N. poeticus 

 poetarum, and N. poeticus herrick are practically the 

 same. There is an obvious tendency for the curves of 

 N. poeticus poetarum, N. poeticus herrick, and N. poeti- 

 cus dante to keep close in the reactions with chloral hy- 

 drate and chromic acid. 



(4) The curves of the two hybrids tend to run closely. 

 In the reactions with chloral hydrate and sulphuric acid 

 they are the same; with chromic acid very nearly the 

 same; and with pyrogallic acid and nitric acid they are 

 separated sufficiently for differential purposes. The 

 curve of the hybrid N. poeticus herrick is higher than the 

 curve of the other hybrid in the chromic-acid reaction, 

 lower in the pyrogallic-acid reaction, and for the most 

 part lower in the nitric-acid reaction. 



(5) An early period of resistance is noted particu- 

 larly in the reactions with chromic acid and pyrogallic 

 acdd, and is suggested in the curves of the nitric acid. 



(6) The earliest period at which the curves are best 

 separated and hence the best for differential purposes is at 

 3 minutes in the reaction with sulphuric acid ; at 5 min- 

 utes in those with chromic acid, pyrogallic acid, and 

 nitric acid ; and at GO minutes in that with chloral 

 hydrate. 



REACTION-INTENSITIES OF THE HYBRIDS. 

 This section treats of the reaction-intensities of the 

 hybrids as regards sameness, intermediateness, excess 

 and deficit in relation to the parents. (Table A 13, 

 Charts D 259 to D 264.) 



The reactivities of the hybrid N. poeticus lierrick 

 are the same as those of the seed parent in none of the 

 reactions; the same as those of the pollen parent with 

 iodine, chloral hydrate, and pyrogallic acid; the same 

 as both parents in none; intermediate with polarization, 

 temperature, and chromic acid (in two nearer the seed 

 parent and in one nearer the pollen parent) ; highest 

 with nitric acid and sulphuric acid (in one as near to 

 one as to the other parent and in one nearer the pollen 

 parent) ; and lowest with gentian violet and safrauiu, 

 being in both nearer the seed parent. 



The reactivities of the hybrid N. poeticus dante are 

 the same as those of the seed parent in the sulphuric- 

 acid reaction; the same as those of the pollen parent in 

 the reactions with iodine, gentian violet, safraniu, and 

 chloral hydrate ; the same as those of both parents in no 

 reaction ; intermediate in the reactions with polariza- 

 tion, temperature, chromic acid, and nitric acid (in two 

 being closer to the seed parent, in one nearer the pollen 

 parent, and in one mid-intermediate) ; highest with 

 pyrogallic acid, being as near one as the other parent; 

 and lowest in none. 



Following is a summary of the reaction-intensities : 



The varying relationships of the two hybrids to the 

 parents in the individual reactions is quite marked. 

 Thus, in the polarization reactions both are intermediate 

 and nearer the seed parent; in the iodine reactions both 

 are the same as the pollen parent; in the gentian violet 

 reaction one is lower than either parent and nearer the 

 seed parent, but the other is the same as the pollen 

 parent, etc. 



COMPOSITE CURVES OF REACTION-INTENSITIES. 



This section deals with the composite curves of the 

 reaction-intensities showing the differentiation of the 

 starches of Narcissus poeticus ornatus, N. poeticus poe- 

 tarum, N. poeticus herrick, and N. poeticus dante. 

 ( Chart E 13.) 



The most conspicuous features of this chart are : 



(1) The marked closeness of all four curves and the 

 very close correspondence in the rises and falls, showing 

 agreement with a given species-type. 



(2) In N. poeticus ornatus as compared with N. po- 

 eticus poetarum the higher reactions with polarization, 

 chloral hydrate, chromic acid, nitric acid, and sulphuric 

 acid; the same or practically the same reactions with 

 pyrogallic acid ; and the lower reactions with iodine, 

 safrauiu, gentian violet, and temperature. 



(3) In N. poeticus ornatus the very high reaction 

 with sulphuric acid ; the high reaction with chromic acid ; 

 the moderate reactions with polarization, iodine, and 

 saf ranin ; the low reactions with gentian violet, tempera- 

 ture, pyrogallic acid, and nitric acid; and the very low 

 reaction with chloral hydrate. 



