NARCISSUS. 



75 



Temperature: 



N. gloria inuudi, iii majority at 71 to 72.8, in all at 74 to 75, 



mean 74.5. 

 N. poeticua ornat., in majority at 73 to 74, in all at 77 to 7&, 



mean 77.5. 

 N. fiery cross, in majority at 71 to 72, in all at 73.5 to 74.5, 



mean 74. 



The reactivity of N. gloria mundi is higher than that 

 of the other parent in the reactions with polarization, 

 iodine, gentian violet, and temperature; and lower in 

 the safrauin reaction. The reactivity of the hybrid is 

 the same or practically the same as that of N. gloria 

 mundi in the iodine and safrauin reactions, and slightly 

 higher in the temperature reaction ; the same or prac- 

 tically the same as that of the other parent in the polar- 

 ization reaction; and mid-intermediate in the gentian 

 violet reaction. 



Table A 15 shows the reaction-intensities in percent- 

 ages of total starch gelatinized at definite intervals 

 (minutes) : 



TABLE A 15. 



VELOCITY-REACTION CURVES. 



This section treats of the velocity-reaction curves 

 of the starches of Narcissus gloria mundi, N. poeticus 

 ornaius, and N. fiery cross, showing quantitative differ- 

 ences in the behavior toward different reagents at definite 

 time-intervals. (Charts D 287 to D 292.) 



The most conspicuous features of these five charts 

 are: 



(1) The closeness of all three curves in all of the 

 reactions, with the exception of that with chromic acid at 

 the 15-minute interval, at which 'time the three curves 

 are well separated ; and also the tendency, with the 

 exception that with sulphuric acid, for the reactions to 

 be of moderate to low or very low intensity. In the 

 sulphuric-acid reaction gelatinization proceeds so quickly 

 that the curves are the same or practically the same, and 

 in that with pyrogallic acid the curves are quite close, yet 

 sufficiently separated and uniform in their courses to 

 indicate clearly the reaction-intensity relationships. 



(2) The relations of the parental curves to each other 

 and to the hybrid vary in the reactions, and moreover 

 vary during the progress of the reactions. 



(3) The curve of N. gloria mundi is the highest 

 of the three in the reaction with chloral hydrate; the 

 highest during most of those with nitric acid and then 

 intermediate; intermediate during most of those with 

 chromic acid, otherwise the lowest; and lowest in those 

 with pyrogallic acid. 



(4) The hybrid curve tends to lowness or highness 

 in relation to the parental curves, it being the highest 

 of the three in the pyrogallic-acid reaction; the lowest 

 in those with chloral hydrate and nitric acid ; and lowest 

 throughout nearly the whole 60-minute period in those 

 with chromic acid, and finally intermediate but close to 

 N. gloria mundi. 



(5) An early period of comparative resistance is 

 evident in one or more of the starches in all of the reac- 

 tions, with the exception of the quick reaction with sul- 

 phuric acid, but in that with nitric acid it is seen only 

 in the relation of the hybrid. 



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

 separated for differential purposes is questionable. The 

 sulphuric-acid reaction is so rapid that any differentia- 

 tion must be made at the very beginning of the reaction. 

 In the chromic-acid reaction it is probably at 15 minutes; 

 in those with chloral hydrate and nitric acid probably at 

 30 minutes; and in that with pyrogallic acid probably 

 at 45 or 60 minutes. 



REACTION-INTENSITIES OF THE HYBRID. 



This section treats of the reaction-intensities of the 

 hybrid as regards sameness, intermediateness, excess, and 

 deficit in relation to the parents. (Table A 15 and 

 Charts D 287 to D 292.) 



The reactivities of the hybrid axe the same as those 

 of the seed parent in the iodine reaction; the same as 

 those of the pollen parent in the polarization and safrauin 

 reactions; the same as those of both parents in no 

 reaction ; intermediate in those with gentian violet and 

 sulphuric acid, in both being mid-intermediate; highest 

 in those with temperature and pyrogallic acid (in one 

 closer to the seed parent and in the other closer to the 

 pollen parent) ; and lowest in those with chloral hydrate, 

 chromic acid, and nitric acid (in one being closer to the 

 seed parent, in one closer to the pollen parent, and in one 

 being as close to one as to the other parent) . 



The following is a summary of the reaction-intensi- 

 ties : Same as seed parent, 1 ; same as pollen parent, 2 ; 

 same as both parents, 0; intermediate, 2; highest, 2; 

 lowest, 3. 



The parents seem to have about equal influence on the 

 properties of the starch of the hybrid. 



COMPOSITE CURVE OF THE REACTION-INTENSITIES. 



This section treats of the composite curves of the 

 reaction-intensities, showing the differentiation of the 

 starches of Narcissus gloria mundi, N. poeticus ornaius, 

 and N. fiery cross. (Chart E 15.) 



The most conspicuous features of this chart are : 



(1) The close correspondence of all three curves in 

 their courses. 



(2) In N. gloria mundi compared with the other 

 parent the higher reactions with polarization, iodine, 

 gentian violet, and temperature ; the lower with chromic 

 acid and nitric acid; and the same or practically the 

 same with pyrogallic acid and nitric acid. 



