Prof. LINDLEY on the Anatomy of the Roots of Ophrydex. 427 
It then appeared that the nodules, apparently so homogeneous, are composed 
of extremely minute transparent cells, filled, I presume, with a secretion of 
the same refractive power as themselves, and adhering to each other so firmly, 
that in their fresh state no spaces could be detected among them. In their 
charred condition, however, the double walls of the cells, intercellular spaces, 
and even here and there the cytoblasts, became so distinctly visible, that the 
accompanying figure 3. was readily made with a camera lucida adapted to an 
achromatic microscope magnifying 480 diameters. 
These statements are, I should think, sufficient to show that the roots of 
Ophrydec are not composed, to any great extent, of starch, but that their 
peculiar properties are owing to the presence of a large quantity of a gummy 
secretion, which for the present may be called Bassorine, collected in cellular 
horny nodules. 
It remains for me to explain in what way the error has probably arisen of 
those who, like Guibourt and Payen, describe Salep as chiefly composed of 
starch. It is well known that Salep is prepared by boiling the roots of Ophry- 
dee, and then drying them. The effect of boiling is to dissolve what starch 
exists in the parenchyma surrounding the nodules of Bassorine; the dissolved 
starch will flow over the sides of the cells and the surface of the nodules, 
from which when dried it becomes undistinguishable ; and consequently when 
iodine is applied to Salep, the whole mass will appear to have become iodide 
of starch. Attention having been called to the facts above mentioned, there 
remains no difficulty in seeing that the general diffusion of blue is apparent 
only. In reality, if, after iodine is applied to Salep and the blue colour is pro- 
duced, the nodules are removed, which is not difficult, they are found to re- 
tain their original vitreous lustre, and to have been coloured apparently only 
by the reflection, through their semitransparent sides, of the blue iodide of 
starch by which they are surrounded. That this explanation is true, may be 
proved experimentally, by examining the roots of Orchis maculata, both fresh 
and subsequently to their being made into Salep. 
February 2, 1839. 
