NARCISSUS. 



527 



follows the second method and in all are very close to that 

 described for the grains of N. poeticus ornatus, and 

 differs in various respects from N. poeticus poetarum. 

 The gelatinized grains are as much swollen, have as thin 

 capsules, and are as much distorted as in N. poeticus 

 poetarum. 



In this reaction N. poeticus dante shows qualitatively 

 a somewhat closer relationship to N. poeticus poetarum 

 than to N. poeticus ornatus. 



N. poeticus dante is not so close to N. poeticus poe- 

 tarum as is N. poeticus herrick and stands more nearly 

 midway between the two parents than does N. poeticus 

 herrick. 



14. STARCHES OF NARCISSUS TAZETTA GRAND MON- 

 ARQUE, 1ST. POETICUS ORNATUS, AND N". POETAZ 

 TRIUMPH. 



N. poeticus ornatus is described on pp. 515 to 519. 



STARCH OF NARCISSUS TAZETTA GRAND MONARQUE (SEED 

 PARENT). 



(Plate 10, fig. 55; Charts D 265 to D 286.) 

 HISTOLOGIC PROPERTIES. 



In form the grains are usually simple and isolated, 

 but there is a moderate number of aggregates and a some- 

 what smaller number of compound grains. The com- 

 pound grains belong to the following three types in the 

 order of the frequency of their occurrence: (1) 2 or 3 

 moderate-sized grains inclosed in 2 or 3 common sec- 

 ondary lamellae; (2) a large grain to the distal end, or 

 rarely, to the proximal end of which a small grain has 

 become adherent, and the 2 grains afterward inclosed 

 in 1 or 2 common secondary lamellae; (3) small grains 

 in which a number of hila are seen in an amorphous- 

 appearing mass, and this surrounded by 1 or 2 common 

 secondary lamellae. The aggregates are usually doublets, 

 of equal-sized grains, or 1 large and 1 small grain, and 

 triplets and quadruplets in linear or compact arrange- 

 ment. There are also aggregates of a simple and a com- 

 pound grain or of 2 or 3 compound grains. A moderate 

 number of the isolated, simple grains may be seen which 

 show distinctly two periods of starch formation, the 

 primary being distinctly separated from the secondary 

 part by a deep furrow. The starches belonging to the 

 two periods show also a difference in their refractivity. 

 The grains are often irregular and the irregularities are 

 due to the following causes : ( 1 ) Small rounded or large 

 pointed protuberances from either side or the proximal 

 or the distal end; (2) small, irregular depressions and 

 elevations of the surface and margin; (3) irregular pres- 

 sure facets on the sides and distal end; (4) a deviation 

 of the long axis of some of the more slender grains. The 

 conspicuous forms are ovoid, pyriform, ellipsoidal, tri- 

 angular (isosceles or scalene), lenticular dome-shaped, 

 and nearly round. The additional forms are spindle- 

 shaped, reniform, clam-shell-shaped, and club-shaped. 

 Some of the broad forms are flattened, but the rest 

 are not. 



The hilum when not fissured, is a small, round, or, 

 rarely, lenticular-shaped spot, which is not very distinct. 

 It is usually fissured and the fissures are not very deep 

 nor very extensive, and have the following forms: (1) A 

 single, short, straight, transverse, or longitudinal line; 



(2) cruciate; (3) a flying-bird figure; (4) rarely, an 

 irregularly stellate mass of fissures. The hilum is some- 

 times centric, but in the majority of the grains it is 

 eccentric from 0.45 to 0.25, usually 0.35, of the longi- 

 tudinal axis. 



The lamellae are usually not distinct throughout the 

 whole grain, but when they can be seen they appear as 

 moderately fine, continuous rings which have, in general, 

 the form of the outline of the grain. They are more 

 distinct near the hilum than near the margin where they 

 are rarely demonstrable. The entire number can not 

 be counted. 



The size of the grains varies from the smaller, which 

 are 4 by 4/x, to the larger, which are 38 by 26/t and 28 

 by 40/j., in length and breadth. The common sizes are 20 

 by 24/x, and 25 by 18/t. 



Comparison of the histologic characteristics of N. 

 poeticus ornatus and N. tazetta grand monarque shows : 



Compound grains and aggregates are not so common 

 as in N. tazetta grand monarque, but they belong to the 

 same types described under that grain, except that among 

 the aggregates, triplets and quadruplets either linearly 

 or compactly arranged are not common. There are 

 fewer simple grains which show a well-defined distinc- 

 tion between a primary and a secondary starch formation. 

 The grains are somewhat less irregular than in N. tazetta 

 grand monarque, except that deviation of the axis and 

 consequent bending of the grain is not seen and grains 

 are noted in which a regular series of depressions and 

 elevations gives a fluted appearance to the distal surface. 

 These are not present in N. tazetta grand monarque. The 

 grains have a varied form as N. tazetta grand monarque 

 but there are only slight differences to be noted in the 

 forms. The grains are, rarely, flattened. 



The hilum when not fissured is not so distinct as in 

 N. tazetta grand monarque. It is more often fissured 

 and the fissures are as deep and as extensive as in N. 

 tazetta grand monarque. In form they are, however, 

 the same. The range of eccentricity is the same in both 

 starches. 



The lamellce are more distinct than in N. tazetta 

 grand monarque and are coarse instead of fine continuous 

 rings which are otherwise the same as those of N. tazetta 

 grand monarque. There are usually 9 on the larger 

 grains. 



In size the grains are slightly smaller and there are 

 more broad forms and fewer elongated forms than in 

 N. tazetta grand monarque. The common sizes are 

 22 by 24/x, 24 by 24/t, and 22 by 18/t. 



POLARISCOPIC PROPERTIES. 



The figure is usually distinct and moderately well 

 defined. The lines in some grains are fine and in others 

 rather coarse and intersect usually at an acute angle 

 which varies somewhat in size. They are frequently bent 

 or bisected. In some grains the figure is not a cross but 

 has the form of a long line bisected at both ends. 



The degree of polarization varies from low to very 

 high (value 50). In the majority of the grains the 

 degree of polarization is moderate to moderately high. 

 There is considerable variation in the same aspect of a 

 given grain. 



With selenite the quadrants are usually not very well 

 defined, and are often irregular in shape and unequal 



