TYPE 8. GRAINS SIMPLE, ECCENTRIC, CUNEIFORM, OR FLATTENED. 225 



Ca7ina. {Cannaceae.) The root-stock.— The starch-grains are distinguished by the marked eccen- 

 tricity of the hilum, by the unilateral, incomplete, usually very distinct, coarse lamella;, and 

 by their more or less mussel-like form, which is broadened and flattened, and at the hilum 

 end somewhat i^rotruding. In different parts of the same root-stock, and even in the same 

 tissue, the grains present great variations in shape. In the following notes Nageli commu- 

 nicates the results of his researches upon a series of species of Canna without regard to the 

 question whether the variations are of specific or of merely individual value. 



Canna pedimculata Sims. Fresh root-stock. — Grains oval to transverse-oval ; at the hilum end usually 

 narrowed (rounded cuneiform) or even slightly protruding; sometimes with lobate pro- 

 jections; half to twice as broad as long; the broader ones compressed to about one-third of 

 their width; lamellte indistinct; hilum often indistinct, and found either in the protruding 

 blunt end, or in a small projecting wart-like structure; neither fissures nor cavity are observed 

 in the dry grain. Length about 60^. There are also compound grains with components 

 arranged in a single row. (See type 13.) 



Canna picta Hort. Fresh root-stock. — Grains oval to transverse-oval, triangular, usually protrud- 

 ing at the hilum end; compressed to about one-half to one-third of their width, lamella; are 

 numerous and distinct. Length about 112/i. In many grains there is an internal system 

 of lamella;, the longitudinal axis of which deviates from that of the outer system of lamella;, 

 mostly by about 90° or somewhat less; occasionally about 2 to 3 small part-grains lie beside 

 one another at the hilum end. 



Caima linkii Bouche. Fresh root-stock.— Grains rounded, or transverse-oval, once to almost twice 

 as broad as long; compressed to one-half, rarely one-fourth, of their width; lamellae numerous 

 and distinct, the lateral ones incomplete; hilum in the slightly elongated, blunt hilum end; 

 eccentricity one-sixth to one-tenth. Length about 70/^, thickness 15 to 25m. Also a small 

 number of semi-compound grains are present, which, at the hilum end, have 2 to 3 hila 

 lying beside one another; and also scattered compound grains consisting of a few components. 



CaJina vitntta Hort. Fresh root-stock. — Grains similar to those of Canna linkii; usually rounded or 

 transverse-oval, 1 to 1.5 times as broad as long; distal margin usually rounded; proximal 

 margin rather straight, on both sides of which are two blunt often somewhat prominent angles; 

 in the center is a wart-like protuberance in which the hilum is found. Length about 75ai. 



Canna altensteinii Bouche. Fresh roo<-stocfc.— Grains similar to those of Canna linkii; 0.66 to 1.5 

 times as broad as long; lamellae nearly always indistinct; upon drying often a short, somewhat 

 curved, transverse slit appears in the hilum. Length about 70^. 



Canna variegala Hort. Fresh root-stock. — Grains as in Canna linkii; at the hilum end mostly 

 slightly projecting; 0.66 to 1.5 times as broad as long; lamellae numerous, quite distinct. 

 Length 70^. 



Canna floribunda Hort. Fresh root-stock. — Grains similar to the preceding ; mostly rounded. Length 

 about 95m . 



Canna albiflora Hort. Fresh root-stock.- — Grains similar to those of Canna variegata; mostly more 

 or less rounded; somewhat narrowed and projecting at the proximal blunt end; 0.33 to 1.5 

 times as broad as long; compressed to about one-third of the width. 



Canna ramosa Hort. Fresh root-stock. — Grains as in the preceding species; frequently somewhat 

 irregular; 0.66 to 1.5 times as broad as long; eccentricity about one twenty-second. Length 

 about 105m. Many grains with an inner system of lamella;, the longitudinal axis of which 

 deviates about 90° from that of the external system. There are also several semi-compound 

 grains with 2 to 3 small part-grains lying next to each other at the hilum end; and also some 

 compound grains. 



Canna elegans Hort. Fresh root-stock.— GTains triangular with blunt or rounded corners, sometimes 

 mussel-shell-shaped, with protruding hilum end; 0.75 to 1.5 times as broad as long; compressed 

 to one-third of their width; lamellae few; hilum one-sixth and one-tenth eccentric. Length 

 about 40m. Some semi-compound grains are present with 2 to 4 part-grains lying next to 

 each other at the hilum end; and also compound grains consisting of 2 to 5 almost equal 

 components. 



Canna spectabilis Hort. Fresh root-stock. — Grains rounded, oval, sometimes rounded cuneiform; 

 more or less protruding at the hilum end; three-fifths to just as broad as long; compressed 

 to about one-third, occasionally to one-fourth of their width; lamellae numerous, distinct, 

 15 



