600 STARCHES OF LILIACE^. 



With pyrogallic acid the grains begin to react at once. Many are gelatinized in 20 seconds 

 and all in 35 seconds. Both hilum and lamella; become distinct. The hilum, at which a bubble 

 frequently appears, swells; the proximal end elongates; fine radiating lines pass from the gelatinized 

 mass towards the distal and lateral margins; and the entire grain becomes gelatinized. As the 

 grain swells the striated lamellse at the lateral and distal margins may be cut down at several points 

 almost to the capsule, forming a serrated lining which remains, especially at the distal end, when the 

 reaction is complete. The gelatinized grain does not retain much of the form of the untreated grain. 



The grains begin to react with ferric chloride in a minute. A few are gelatinized in 2 minutes, 

 many in 4 minutes, and all in 11 minutes. At first neither the hilum nor the lamellae are distinct; 

 the marginal portion appears as a striated border, more transparent and darker in color than the 

 central part. At the hilum either a dark transverse line or a bubble is formed, which increases in 

 size and persists for some time, but finally disappears; and fine lines pass from the central mass 

 towards the lateral and distal margins. Gelatinization and a rapid distension of the capsule 

 frequently begin simultaneously at both ends; but in the broadly triangular and clam-shell-shaped 

 grains it more often starts at the corners limiting the distal margin, followed quickly by swelling of 

 the proximal end. The central portion of all grains is the last to become gelatinized. The gelatin- 

 ized grain is much swollen, the outline of the distal and lateral parts is undulating, and the 

 proximal end is more regular, rounded, and flattened, but occasionally at this point the next to 

 the outer layer is invaginated. At the distal end the grain is irregularly folded and seamed. 



Reaction with Purdy's solution begins at once. It is complete in many grains in 15 seconds 

 and in all in 30 seconds. The hilum becomes distinct as a clear spot, or a bubble may appear at 

 this point. Two clear lines pass obliquely from the hilum towards the corners of the distal margin, 

 or one larger, central, root-like channel may proceed from the base of the swollen hilum towards 

 the distal margin. The proximal end swells, and if there is a bubble at this point it increases in 

 size, and just before it collapses there is an invagination of the outermost layer, either at the proximal 

 end or at the side nearby. Fine Hues pass from the two main lines, and many lines appear over the 

 grain, until finally all the grain substance is gelatinized. In some grains a small mass of granulated 

 substance or a few convoluted lamellse may remain ungelatinized. The gelatinized grain is much 

 swollen in both the longitudinal and transverse axes and retains very little of the shape of the un- 

 treated grain. Gelatinization is so rapid that the minute details can not be studied with satisfaction. 



STARCH OF FRITILLARIA PYRENAICA. (Plate 25, figs. 147 and 148. Chart 113.) 



Histological Characteristics. — In form the grains are almost wholly simple and isolated, except 

 a few in small aggregates. Rare compound grains of few components are noted. No pressure facets 

 were observed on the isolated grains. The surface is usually regular, with sometimes small protu- 

 berances and rarely an uneven, rather fluted surface at the distal end, due to pressure or irregu- 

 larities of development. The conspicuous forms are the pyriform to bottle-shaped, the ovoid, the 

 elliptical, and the triangular with curved base and rounded angles; also rod-shaped and nearly round 

 grains. The smaller grains are usually nearly round, ovoid, or rod-shaped. 



The hilum is an indistinct, rather small round spot. It is eccentric from one-fourth to one-sixth, 

 usually one-fifth, of the longitudinal axis of most of the grains. The hilum is occasionally marked 

 by a cavity, or by a fissure in the form of a narrow, short, transverse hne. 



The lam^UcB are indistinct, fine, regular circles, ellipses, or arcs of circles, mostly of the same 

 outline as the grain. Near the equator and distal end of the grain they are probably discontinuous 

 and have the form of arcs of circles; they are usually not so fine, but more distinct, at the equator 

 and distal third of the grains than elsewhere. The number was not determined. 



The grains vary in size; the smaller are 10 by 10/;*, the larger, narrow elongated grains are 

 54 by 26n, and the broader elongated grains are 52 by 39^ in length and breadth. The common 

 sizes of the last two forms are respectively 30 by ITju, and 30 by 20/i in length and breadth. 



Polariscopic Properties. — The figure is eccentric, distinct, but not clear-cut. The lines compos- 

 ing it often are broad and not clearly defined for the greater part of their length. They are usually 

 straight, but sometimes bent, and they vary in width. 



The degree of polarization is fairly high, varying somewhat in different grains and much in 

 different aspects of the same grain, being highest when the grain is viewed on end or edge. In the 

 same aspect of a grain it is often lower near the margin and distal end than near the hilum. It is 

 slightly higher than that of the grains of F. meleagris. 



