STARLING. 



STELLARIA. 



894 



Starch differs from sugar in its not being fermentable. It is how- 

 ever readily convertible into sugar by agents which induce fermentation. 

 It has even been supposed that the protein of the plant-cell acts chemi- 

 cally in converting starch into sugar during germination, and the term 

 Diastase has been applied to the proteinaceous matters found in 

 connection with the starch of germinating seeds. 



Starch occurs usually in the cells of plants iu the form of granules. 

 In the earlier stages of their growth these are attached to the sides 

 of the cell, or to portions of the endoplastic protein wherever they 

 may be placed. In most cases these granules are simple or single ; 

 but when they are developed near each other a union is formed of 

 one or more, and the result ia a compound granule. Schleiden also 

 describes Amorphous Starch, and states that in some plants the sides 

 of the cells are lined with a layer of starch having no definitely-formed 

 granules. In the majority of starch-granules a little spot may be seen 

 which is called the hilum, and has been by some regarded as a nucleus 

 or central point of the formation of the granule. It does not however 

 seem to bear this relation in all cases. 



Much difference of opinion exists as to the true nature of the starch- 

 granule. Some observers have supposed that it consists of a series 

 of flattened plates or dishes laid one upon the other, the result of 

 successive depositions of starch matter. This view will be seen to be 

 erroneous if the starch-granule is submitted to heat, or sulphuric acid, 

 when it will be found to unfold and exhibit itself in the form of a 

 vesicle or bag. From this it appears that this bag is compressed in 

 the ordinary state of the starch, and its sides being folded in, gives it 

 the appearance of dishes. 



At one time it was supposed that starch was characteristic of the 

 vegetable kingdom. Veichow has however demonstrated its existence 

 in connection with cellulose in a large number of animals. Bush first 

 pointed it out in the human brain. It has been found also iu the 

 human blood ; and with cellulose and sugar it can no longer be 

 regarded ag truly characteristic of the vegetable kingdom. 



(Schleiden, Principlei of Scientific Botany; Quarterly Journal of 

 Hicroicopical Science, vols. i, ii , and iii.) 



STARLING. [STURNIDJE.] 



STA'TICE (from the Greek ora-riK^, intended to be used in the 

 active sense, 'to stop,' so named from its supposed property of re- 

 straining haemorrhages), a genus of Plants belonging to the natural 

 order Plumbaginacea. It has spiked flowers with a 5-parted corolla, 

 the calyx scarious above, the capsules not bursting. 



S. Caroliniana haa narrow obovate leaves on long petioles, smooth, 

 veinless, obtuse, mucronated, level, and flat on the margin ; the scape 

 is round, smooth, slightly scaly, and terminated by a panicle of nume- 

 rous branches, which bear the flowers on the upper side only ; the 

 flowers are alternate, erect, mostly in pairs, but appear singly in conse- 

 quence of one expanding before the other ; the calyx is fuunel-shaped, 

 scarious, and pink at the edge, 5-angled, the angles ciliate, and ending 

 in long sharp teeth ; the petals are obtuse, longer than the calyx, and 

 of a bluish purple colour. This species is a native of North America, 

 where it is called Marsh Rosemary. The root ia a very powerful 

 astringent, and is used as an application in aphtha) and similar affes- 

 tiona of the mouth and fauces ; it has been employed with success in 

 Cynanche Maligna. 



S. Limonium, Sea-Lavender, ia a British species, and has much 

 divided corymbose branches curved outwards ; the ultimate subdivi- 

 sions short, unilateral, ascending, and densely flowered ; the calyx- 

 segments entire, acute, with intermediate teeth ; the outer bracts 

 pointed and small. The roots possess astringent qualities. 



8. rariflora is found near the sea in England and the coast of Gallo- 

 way; it haa oblong-lanceolate stalked leaves, the branches divided, 

 the panicle ascending or incurved, the ultimate subdivisions elongated 

 with unilateral rather distant flowers; the calyx-segments acute, 

 denticulate, with intermediate teeth ; the bracts obtuse, the outer ones 

 large, the margins tinged with pink. 



8. tpatliulata has spathulate leaves narrowed into a broadly winged 

 stalk ; the calyx-segments blunt, entire, and without intermediate teeth. 



8. reticulata has spathulate leaves narrowed into a flat stalk, mucro- 

 nate behind the point ; 3-ribbed below ; the scape panicled almost 

 from the base with numerous slender zig-zag much-divided branches, 

 of which the lower are barren ; the calyx-segments acute, denticulate. 

 It is found in muddy salt marshes in Norfolk. 



(Babington, Manual of British Botany; Lindley, Vegetable Kingdom.) 



STATYUA. [LAGKIID.I:.] 



STAUNTO'NIA, a genus of Plants belonging to the natural order 

 Menitpermacta; and tribe Lardizabalece, named after Sir George 

 Staunton. This genus is remarkable as being one of those which is 

 common to China and the Himalayan Mountains, and haa hence 

 afforded useful inferences respecting the districts where the tea-plant 

 might be successfully cultivated. The genus is characterised by 

 having monoecious flowers ; the male having a 6-leaved calyx, with 

 the leaflets in two rows ; petals 6 or wanting ; stamens 6, opposite to 

 the petals, distinct or monadelphoua ; anthers adnate, opening out- 

 wards ; rudiment of ovary. The female flower has the calyx of the 

 male ; no petals ; 6 sterile dwarfish stamens ; ovaries 3, distinct, 

 oblong, with many ovulea ; stigmas sessile, simple-Howei -ml. Berries 

 often fewer than 3, divaricate, fleshy, opening longitudinally on their 

 loner side. Seeds numerous, oblong-ovate, or reniforin ; embryo 



minute in base of a fleshy albumen ; radicle inferior. The species 

 are divided into two sub-genera Stauntonia being without petals and 

 having mouadelphous stamens : Holbodlia having 6 gland-like petals 

 and the stamens free. The species form large climbing shrubs, with 

 alternate petiolate peltately digitate leaves. Leaflets leathery iu 

 texture, 3-nerved, very entire, with all the petioles swelled and 

 jointed at both extremities; racemes fascicled, axillary, a few flowered 

 at the base of the branches. Flowers white, externally purple, frag- 

 rant. Berries large and purple. The Himalayan species are found iu 

 Nepaul and in 30 N. lat., at elevations of 5000 and 6000 feet. Their 

 fruit, having a sweetish pulp, is eaten by the natives of these moim- 

 tains, and they might no doubt be acclimated in the gardens of this 

 country, as they experience a considerable degree of cold at the 

 elevations where they are found. 



STAUROLITE, Stawotide, Grenatite, a Mineral consisting of a 

 silicate of alumina and iron. It occurs crystallised, the primary form 

 being a right rhombic prism. Cleavage parallel to the lateral planes, 

 and both diagonals. Fracture conchoidal, uneven. It scratches quartz 

 with difficulty. Colour reddish-brown ; streak white. Transparent ; 

 translucent. Lustre vitreous and somewhat resinous. Specific gravity 

 3'724. The crystals often intersect each other. It does not fuse by 

 the blow-pipe ; with borax it is slowly converted into a dark greeu 

 transparent glass. It ia found in France, Spam and Portugal, Switzer- 

 land, and North America. The analysis of a specimen from St. 

 Gothard, by Klaproth, gives 



Silica 37-50 



Alumina 4TOO 



Oxide of Iron 18-25 



Oxide of Manganese 0'50 



Lime 3-00 



100-25 



STAUROTIDE. [STAUROLITE.] 



STAVESACRE. [DELPHINIUM.] 



STEAMER-DUCK. [MICBOPTEBUS.] 



STEARIN. [ADIPOSE TISSUE ; FAT.] 



STEATITE, Soapstone, Speckstein, Talc-Steatite, a Mineral consisting 

 principally of hydrated silicate of magnesia. It is met with massive 

 in amorphous masses, which sometimes contain crystals of this sub- 

 stance of the form of quartz and calcareous spar, and which are 

 probably pseudomorphous. Structure compact. Fracture uneven, 

 splintery. Soft, and has a greasy feel. Colour yellowish, greenish, 

 and grayish-white. Streak shining. Dull. Translucent on the edges. 

 Specific gravity 2'604 to 2-632. Before the blow-pipe it is infusible 

 either alone or with additions. It occurs plentifully in Baireuth, 

 Saxony ; in Cornwall, in Scotland, and many other parts of the world. 

 According to Klaproth it consists of : 



Eidrcuth. Cornwall. 



Silica 59-50 45-00 



Magnesia 30'50 24"75 



Alumina 925 



Oxide of Iron 2'50 I'OO 



Water 5'50 18'OQ 



98-00 98-00 



STEATOHNIS. [GuAOHARO-BiBD.] 



STEENHA'MMERA, a genus of Plants belonging to the natural 

 order Boraginacca;. The calyx is divided into 5 deep segments. The 

 carolla bell-shaped, with a short cylindrical tube with 5 minute pro- 

 tuberances in its throat. The stamens protrude beyond the throat, 

 the filaments elongated. 



S. maritima, the only British species, differs but little from Litho- 

 tpermum except in habit. It has a procumbent branched stem, ovate- 

 acute leaves, with rough hard dots, glabrous, fleshy, and glaucous, 

 having a taste resembling oysters. The nuts are smooth. The flowers 

 in racemes, and of a purplish-blue colour. 



STEIN-BOC. [ANTILOPEJJ.] 



STEINMANNITE. [ANTIMONY.] 



STELLA'RIA (from ' stella,' a star), a genus of Plants belonging 

 to the natural order Carpophyllaceai, and the section Aliinece. Tbe 

 calyx has 5 sepals; the corolla is composed of 5 petals, which 

 are either bifid or bipartite; the stamens are 10 in number; the 

 ovary simple, with indefinite ovules ; styles 8, and the fruit a capsule 

 with 6 valves. There are 67 species of this genus enumerated. Most 

 of them are weeds, which are distributed over all parts of the world. 

 Kight of them are found in Great Britain. In common with the 

 whole order to which they belong, they possess no active properties. 

 Few of them are thought worthy of cultivation, and when planted in 

 gardens they require but little care. 



S. Holontca, the Greater Stitchwort, is a British species, and is the 

 handsomest plant of the genus. It has a nearly erect stem ; lanceo- 

 late acuminated finely serrated leaves; inversely heart-shaped bifid 

 petals, twice as long as the calyx. It is often planted in gardens as a 

 border flower, for which, on account of its early delicate white flowers, 

 it is well adapted. 



S. media is the Common Chickweed, which is so common and 

 abundant on road-sides and waste places all over Europe. It is 

 characterised by its procumbent stems possessing an alternate line of 

 hairs between each pair of leaves. It has small white (lowers, which 



