540 



DATA OP PROPERTIES OP STARCHES OF PARENT- AND HYBRID-STOCKS. 



The hilum is moderately distinct and no bubble is 

 observed there. The lamellae are not distinct, but can 

 be seen in many grains. Gelatinization begins at the 

 hilum and progresses according to but one method in all 

 but rare grains. Two furrows or actual fissures proceed 

 transversely, rarely obliquely, from either side of the 

 hilum nearly to the margin and become wider and more 

 branched as gelatinization and swelling progress. The 

 starch included between them and the hilum and the 

 margin, becomes finely granular, except a narrow band 

 of material at the margin. The finely granular material 

 gelatinizes with much irregular swelling and distortion 

 of the capsule. The proximal deposit, meanwhile, is 

 pushed to the margin, where it forms a homogeneous- 

 looking band which is continuous with the narrow band 

 of starch around the rest of the margin. The mar- 

 ginal material gelatinizes rather slowly, especially that 

 at the proximal end which often persists for a long time 

 after the rest of the grain is gelatinized. 



The gelatinized grains are much swollen, have rather 

 thick capsules, and are somewhat distorted ; they do not 

 retain any resemblance to the form of the untreated 

 grain. 



Comparison of the sulphuric-acid reactions between 

 N. poeticus ornatus and N. gloria mundi shows : 



The hilum is more distinct than in N. gloria mundi 

 and a bubble is sometimes formed there. The lamellae 

 are always visible and are more distinct. Gelatinization 

 progresses according to two methods. That noted in the 

 majority of the grains is seen in only rare grains in 

 N. gloria mundi. The starch immediately surrounding 

 the hilum is split into 3 or 4 pieces, and the bubble if 

 present swells, then shrinks, and finally disappears. 

 The less resistant material gelatinizes and the remaining 

 substance of the grain is pushed to the margin, where it 

 forms a homogeneous-looking refractive band, and the 

 3 or 4 particles formed from the material surrounding 

 the hilum are converted into a mass of fine granules 

 which are soon gelatinized. The marginal band becomes 

 slowly thinner and more nearly transparent until this 

 starch also is gelatinized and only the capsule is left. 

 In the second method, which resembles that described 

 under N. gloria mundi, the main differences noted were: 

 the persistence of a lamellar arrangement in the gran- 

 ules formed from the material distal to the hilum and the 

 2 furrows extending from the hilum to the margin, and 

 the greater refractivity of the starch which is pushed 

 to the margin. 



The gelatinized grains are more swollen, have capsules 

 of the same thickness, and are more distorted than in 

 N. gloria mundi. 



NARCISSUS FIERY CROSS (HYBRID). 



(Plate 10, fig. 60; Charts D 287 to D 292.) 



HISTOLOOIC PROPERTIES. 



In form the grains are usually simple and isolated, 

 but there are a few aggregates and some compound grains, 

 more than in N. poeticus ornatus but less than in N. 

 gloria mundi. The compound grains belong to the two 

 types described under N. gloria mundi. There are as 

 many grains as in N. poeticus ornatus in which a clear 

 distinction may be seen between a primary and a second- 

 ary starch formation. The grains are as irregular in 

 form, and the irregularities are due to the same causes 



as in N. gloria mundi. The conspicuous forms are, 

 ovoid, plano-convex, dome-shaped, and triangular. The 

 additional forms are lenticular, reniform, nearly round, 

 and pyriform. The grains are somewhat rounded in form 

 as in N. gloria mundi, and not so often pointed as in 

 N. poeticus ornatus. 



In. form N. fiery cross shows a somewhat closer 

 relationship to N. gloria mundi than to N. poeticus 

 ornatus. 



The hilum when it is not fissured is as distinct as in 

 2V. gloria mundi, but it is usually fissured, not quite so 

 extensively as in N. gloria mundi, but more than in N. 

 poeticus ornatus; the forms most frequently noted are 

 also like those most frequently seen in 2V. gloria mundi. 

 The forms of the fissures are: (1) T, Y, or cruciate 

 shapes; (2) a short straight or curved line, placed trans- 

 versely or longitudinally; (3) a flying-bird figure; (4) 

 an irregularly stellate group of fissures. The hilum is 

 sometimes centric, but in the great majority of the grains 

 it is eccentric from 0.4 to 0.21, usually 0.33, of the longi- 

 tudinal axis. 



In the character of the hilum 2V. fiery cross shows a 

 closer relationship to 2V. gloria mundi, but in the degree 

 of eccentricity closer to 2V. poeticus ornatus. 



The lamella, as in 2V. gloria mundi, usually can not 

 be seen, and in the grains in which some can be demon- 

 strated they have the same character and arrangement 

 as in 2V. gloria mundi. The number can not be deter- 

 mined. In the character and arrangement of the lamells 

 2V. fiery cross shows a somewhat closer relationship to 

 2V. gloria mundi than to 2V. poeticus ornat'us. 



In size the grains vary from the smaller which are 

 4 by 4/t, to the larger which are 26 by 40/x, and 34 by 

 40/t, in length and breadth. The common sizes are 26 

 by 30,u, 24 by 28/x, and 24 by 24/*. In size 2V. fiery cross 

 shows a somewhat closer relationship to 2V. gloria mundi 

 than to 2V. poeticus ornatus. 



POLARISCOPIC PROPERTIES. 



The figure, as in 2V. poeticus ornatus, is distinct and 

 is usually not well defined, and the lines show the same 

 amount of increase in size near the margin. The lines 

 cross at nearly the same angle in all the grains as in 

 2V. poeticus ornatus, but are more often bent and bisected 

 than in those grains, though not quite so often as in 

 2V. gloria, mundi. The figure is sometimes hyperbolic 

 and sometimes a long line bisected at both ends, as in 

 2V. gloria mundi. 



The degree of polarization varies from low to very 

 high (value 50), the same as in 2V. poeticus ornatus, 

 and there is the same amount of variation in a given 

 aspect of the same grain as in 2V. poeticus ornatus. 



With selenite the quadrants, as in 2V. poeticus ornatus, 

 are usually not well defined, and are unequal in size and 

 somewhat irregular in shape. The colors are usually not 

 pure, and there is the same number with a greenish tinge 

 as in 2V. poeticus ornatus. 



In the degree of polarization, the character of the 

 figure and the appearances with selenite 2V. fieri/ cross 

 shows a closer relationship to 2V. poeticus ornatus than to 

 2V. gloria mundi. 



IODINE REACTIONS. 



With 0.25 per cent Lugol's solution, the grains all 

 color a moderate violet tinged with blue (value 60), the 



