NARCISSUS. 



77 



VELOCITY-REACTION CURVES. 



This section treats with velocity-reaction curves of the 

 starches of Narcissus telamonius plenus, N. poeticus 

 o mat us, and N. doubloon, showing quantitative differ- 

 ences in the behavior toward different reagents at definite 

 time-intervals. (Charts D 293 to D 298.) 



The most conspicuous features of these charts are : 



(1) The tendency in three of the charts to well- 

 marked separation of one of the three curves from the 

 other two, to closeness of the curves in the reaction with 

 pyrogallic acid, and to identity in the sulphuric-acid reac- 

 tion. In the chloral-hydrate reaction the parental curves 

 are in close correspondence in their courses, the hybrid 

 curve departing; but in the charts for chromic acid and 

 nitric acid the curves of N. telamonius plenus and the 

 hybrid tend to closeness and the curve of N. poeticus 

 ornatus to departure. With the exception of the very 

 high reactivity with sulphuric acid, and the very low 

 reactivity with chloral hydrate the reactions tend to be 

 moderate to low. 



(2) The relations of the parental curves to each 

 other and to the hybrid vary in the four reactions. 



(3) The curve of N. telamonius plenus is higher than 

 the curve of the other parent throughout the whole, or 

 the larger part, of the 60 minutes in the reactions with 

 chloral hydrate, pyrogallic acid, and nitric acid, but 

 is distinctly the lower in the reaction with chromic acid. 



(4) The hybrid curves are very variable in their 

 parental relationships. In the chloral-hydrate reaction 

 the hybrid curve is distinctly the highest of the three 

 curves; in that with chromic acid the lowest; in that 

 with pyrogallic acid at first somewhat the highest and 

 then passing on to be the lowest, although in this reac- 

 tion all three curves tend to marked closeness; and in 

 that with nitric acid it is at first the highest and then 

 intermediate, but much closer to N. telamonius plcnus 

 than to the other parent. The relationship is, on the 

 whole, rather closer to N. telamonius plenus. 



(5) An early period of comparative resistance fol- 

 lowed by a comparatively rapid reaction is noted with 

 chromic acid and pyrogallic acid, not at all with nitric 

 acid, and to a slight degree with chloral hydrate. 



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

 separated for differential purposes is within or at 5 

 minutes in the reactions with sulphuric acid and nitric 

 acid ; at 15 minutes in those with chromic acid and 

 pyrogallic acid ; and either at 30 or 60 minutes in that 

 with chloral hydrate at the first N. telamonius plenus 

 would be intermediate in position, while at the latter 

 it would be lowest. 



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 16 and 

 Charts D 293 to D298.) 



The reactivities of the hybrid are the same as those 

 of the seed parent in the polarization and iodine reac- 

 tions; the same as those of the pollen parent in the 

 safranin reaction ; the same as those of both parents in 

 that with pyrogallic acid ; intermediate in those with gen- 

 tian violet, temperature, nitric acid, and sulphuric acid 

 (in two being closer to the seed parent and in two closer 



to the pollen parent) ; highest in none ; and lowest in 

 those with chloral hydrate and chromic acid (in one being 

 as close to one as to the other parent, and in the other 

 closer to the seed parent). 



The following is a summary of the reaction-intensi- 

 ties (10 reactions): Same as seed parent, 2; same as 

 pollen parent, 1 ; same as both parents, 1 ; intermediate, 

 4 ; highest, ; lowest, 2. 



The seed parent, 2V. poeticus ornatus, seems to be the 

 more potent in influencing the characters of the starch 

 of the hybrid. 



COMPOSITE CURVES OF THE REACTION-INTENSITIES. 



This section treats of the composite curves of the 

 reaction-intensities, showing the differentiation of the 

 starches of Narcissus telamonius plenus, N. poeticus 

 ornatus, and N. doubloon. (Chart E 16.) 



The most conspicuous features of the chart are : 



(1) The close correspondence of all three curves in 

 their courses, especially of the parental curves. 



(2) In N. telamonius plenus in comparison with the 

 other parent the higher reactions with iodine, gentian 

 violet, safranin, temperature, and nitric acid ; the lower 

 reactions with polarization and chloral hydrate ; and the 

 same or practically the same reactions with chromic acid, 

 pyrogallic acid, and sulphuric acid. 



(3) In N. telamonius plenus the very high reaction 

 with sulphuric acid ; the high reaction with chromic acid ; 

 the moderate reactions with polarization, iodine, gentian 

 violet, safranin, and pyrogallic acid; the low reactions 

 with temperature and nitric acid ; and the very low reac- 

 tion with chloral hydrate. 



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

 with sulphuric acid ; the high reaction with chromic acid ; 

 the moderate reactions with polarization, iodine, and 

 safranin ; the low reactions with gentian violet, tempera- 

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

 reaction with chloral hydrate. 



(5) In the hybrid the very high reaction with sul- 

 phuric acid ; the absence of any high reaction ; the mod- 

 erate reactions with polarization, iodine, safranin, and 

 chromic acid ; the low reactions with gentian violet, tem- 

 perature, chloral hydrate, pyrogallic acid, and nitric acid ; 

 and the absence of any very low reaction. 



The following is a summary of the reaction-intensi- 

 ties (10 reactions) : 



17. COMPARISONS OF THE STARCHES OF NARCISSUS 

 PRINCESS MARY, N. POETICUS POETARUM, AND N. 



CRESSET. 



In histologic characteristics, polariscopic figures, reac- 

 tions with selenite, reactions with iodine, and qualitative 

 reactions with various chemical reagents the starches of 

 the parents and hybrids possess properties in common 

 in varying degrees of development and individualities 

 which collectively are in each case distinctive. In histo- 



