GENUS CAIiOCHORTUS. 



515 



Chart No. 123. 



P I GV 



S 



PS CI PA 

 ~ PC PS 



STARCH OF CALOCHORTUS LILACINUS. (Plate 29, figs. 169 and 170. Chart 123.) 



Histological Characteristics. — In form the grains are simple and nearly always isolated and 

 without pressure facets. Many show unevenness due to irregular development of the surface or 

 to amorphous deposits. The conspicuous form is the elongated elliptical. There are also short 

 elliptical, fan-shaped, pyriform, ovoid, round, a few diamond-shaped, and triangular with rounded 

 corners. The grains are somewhat flattened and some are narrower at one end than at the other, 

 in some the proximal and in others the distal end is the narrower. 



The hilum is usually fairly distinct, small, eccentric about one-fifth, and usually in or near the 

 median line. It is never double or multiple. It is commonly fissured, usually with a very small, 

 single, transverse line. A few grains have irregular fissures extending from the hilum almost to 

 the distal end. 



The lamellae are not distinct, but when seen they appear as rather fine, regular, continuoas 

 rings following the outline of the margin. Those near the distal end are not so fine as elsewhere, 

 but in some cases they are more distinct than those near the hilum. The number could not be 

 accurately determined. 



The grains vary in size from 6 to 46/i. The common size is 28/i. The dimensions of an average 

 elliptical grain are 28 by 16ju and of the broadened grains are 28 by 2ifi in length and breadth. 



Polariscopic Properties. — The figure is eccentric, and, as a rule, clear-cut and distinct. In many 

 grains, however, one or more of the lines are not so clearly defined as the others. The lines may 

 be somewhat bent and otherwise distorted, varying in 

 width, and be placed at varying angles to one another. 



The degree of polarization is high, but varies some- 

 what in different grains and different aspects of the same 

 grain. It is higher than that in the grains of C. nitidus. 



With selenite the quadrants are well defined, are 

 unequal in size, and irregular in shape. The colors are 

 usually fairly pure. 



Iodine Reactions. — With 0.25 per cent Lugol's solu- 

 tion the grains color very deeply a blue- violet at once; 

 with 0.125 per cent solution they color at once and the 

 color deepens rapidly. The shade is about the same as 

 that of the grains of C. nitidiis. After heating until 

 the grains are completely gelatinized, the solution colors 

 fairly and the grains very deeply on the addition of 

 iodine. After boiling for 2 minutes the solution colors 

 much more deeply, the grain-residues much less, many 

 not at all. Some grains are disintegrated. On the addi- 

 tion of a slight excess of iodine the grain-residues all 

 show a red-violet capsule. 



Staining Reactions. — With gentian violet the grains begin to stain at once and in 30 minutes 

 are fairly stained, all to an equal degree. The shade is deeper than that of the grains of C. nitidus. 



With safranin the grains begin to stain at once and in 30 minutes they are deeply stained. 

 The shade is deeper than that of the grains of C. nitidus. 



Temperature Reaction. — The temperature of gelatinization is 58° to 60° C, mean 59°. 



Effects of Various Reagents. — With chloral hydrate-iodine there is a general reaction in Ij^ min- 

 utes. About half the grains are gelatinized in 3 minutes and all in 5 minutes. The reaction is quali- 

 tatively the same as that of the grains of C. nitidus. 



The reaction with chromic acid begins at once and is over in 30 seconds. It is qualitatively 

 the same as that of the grains of C. nitidus. 



With pyrogallic acid there is a general reaction in 20 seconds and it is complete in practically 

 all in 4 minutes. The reaction is qualitatively the same as that of the grains of C. nitidus. 



With ferric chloride some grains react in a minute and reaction is almost general in 2 minutes. 

 Almost all the grains are gelatinized in 3 minutes and all in 5 minutes. The reaction is qualitatively 

 the same as that of the grains of C. nitidus. 



The reaction with Purdy's solution begins at once and is over in a minute. The reaction is 

 qualitatively the same as that of the grains of C. nitidus. 



Curve of Rcaction-IntenMties of Starch of 

 Calochortus lilacinus. 



