650 



STARCHES OF LILIACEiE. 



Differentiation of Certain Starches of the Genus Chionodoxa. 



Histological Characteristics. 

 Conspicuous Forms. 



C. IucHub: Simple, rare compounds, no pressure facets, 

 surface usually irregular owing to rounded pro- 

 tuberances and nipple-like processes and accre- 

 tions, ovoid, reniform, lenticular, clam-shell- 

 shaped. 



C. tmoZim: Essentially the same as in C. luciluB. 



C. sardensis: Essentially the same as in C. lucUiee. 



Hilum — Form, Number, and Position. 



C. lucilioB: Form rather indistinct, comparatively small, 



round; occasionally multiple; may be fissured, 



usually in form of cross. Position eccentric about 



0.20 to 0.40 of longitudinal axis. 

 C. Imolusi: Form essentially the same as in C. lucilice, 



but hilum not so distinct. Position eccentric about 



0.20 to 0.40 of longitudinal axis. 

 C. sardensis: Form essentially the same as in C. lucUiae, 



but hilum not so distinct. Position eccentric about 



0.16 to 0.33 of longitudinal axis. 



LamdUe — General Characteristics and Number. 



C. lucilio!: Fairly distinct, rather coarse, regular or irreg- 

 ular continuous, usually 2 sets. 7 to 12 on medium- 

 sized grains. 



C. tmolusi: Not very distinct, otherwise like C. lucilia. 



5 to 7 on medmm-sized grains. 



C. sardensis: Not very distinct, otherwise like C. IvxAlim. 



6 to 7 on medium-sized grains. 



Size. 



C. lucilice: From 4 to 64^, commonly 34(i. 

 C. tmolusi: From 3 to 32;i, commonly 20m. 

 C. sardensis: From 6 to 40/i, commonly 22m. 



PoLARiscoPic Properties. 



Figure. 



C. hieiluB: Usually eccentric, distinct, usually not clear- 

 cut, quite irregular. 



C. Imolusi: Same as in C. lucilice, except usually clear- 

 cut and less irregular. 



C. sardensis: Same as in C. lucUim, except usually clear- 

 cut and less irregular. 



Degree of Polarization. 



C. lucilife: Fairly hi^h, variable. 



C. tmolusi: Fairly high, less variable than in C. lucilice, 



but of same degree. 

 C. sardensis: Fairly high, much more variable and not 



so high as in C lucilice. 



Polarization with Selenite — Quadrants and Colors. 



C. hteUice: Quadrants usually not clear-cut, very irregular 

 in shape, unequal in size. Colors fairly pure. 



C. tmolusi: Quadrants usually clear-cut, somewhat irreg- 

 ular, unequal in size. Colors fairly pure. 



C. sardensis: Quadrants usually clear-cut, somewhat irreg- 

 ular, unequal in size. Colors fairly pure. 



Iodine Reactions. 



Intensity and Color. 

 C. lucilim: Deep; blue- violet. 



C. tmolusi: Deep, the same as C. lucUice; blue-violet. 

 C. sardensis: Deep, the same as in C. lucilice; blue-violet. 



Staining Reactions. 

 With Gentian Violet. 

 C. lucilice: Fair. 



C. tmolusi: Fair, about the same as in C. lucilim. 

 C. sardensis: Fair, but less than in C. lucilice. 



With Safranin. 



C. lucilice: Fairly deep. 



C. Imolusi: Fairly deep, the same or slightly lighter than 



in C. lucilice. 

 C. sardensis: Fair, about the same as in C. lucilice. 



Temperature of Gelatinization. 



C. lucUice: 59.4 to 60.6° C, mean 60°. 

 C. tmolusi: 61.5 to 63.2° C, mean 62.35°. 

 C. sardensis: 60.2 to 62° C, mean 61.1°. 



Effects of Various Reagents. 



Reaction with Chloral Hydrate-Iodine. 



C. hicilice: Begins in a minute; complete in nearly all in 



15 minutes. 

 C. tmolxisi: Begins at once; complete in nearly all in 10 



minutes. 

 C. sardensis: Begins in 20 seconds; complete in all in 12 

 minutes. 



Reaction tvith Chromic Acid. 



C. lucilice: Begins at once; complete in all in 2 minutes. 

 C. tmolusi: Begins at once; complete in all in 2 minutes. 

 C. sardensis: Begins at once; complete in all in 2 minutes, 

 except few small grains. 



Reaction with Pyrogallic Acid. 

 C. lucilice: Begins in 10 seconds; complete in most in 2 



minutes. 

 C tmolusi: Be^ns in 15 seconds; complete in nearly all 



in 114 minutes. 

 C. sardensis: Begins in 20 seconds; complete in nearly 



all in 3 minutes, others partially gelatinized. 



Reaclicm with Ferric Chloride. 

 C. hicilice: Begins in 30 seconds; complete in all the grains 



in 30 minutes. 

 C. tmolusi: Begins in 30 seconds; complete in all in 10 



minutes. 

 C. sardensis: Begins in 20 seconds; complete in all in 



8 minutes. 



Reaction ivith Purdy's Solution. 



C. lucilice: Begins at once in many grains; about one- 

 third partially and two-thirds completely gelatin- 

 ized in 2 minutes. 



C. Imolusi: Begins in some in 15 seconds; complete in 

 nearly all in 7 minutes. 



C. sardensis: Begins at once; complete in most of the 

 grains in a minute. 



NOTES ON THE STARCHES OF CHIONODOXA. 



In histological features the main differences in the three starches are in the different proportions 

 of the several types of grains, differences in size, and in the distinctness and number of the lamellae. 

 How far these variations are constant is problematical. In their reactions there are very close corre- 

 spondences throughout, the variations being noted particularly in the temperatures of gelatiniza- 

 tion (60°, 62.35°, and 61.1°, respectively) and in the chemical reactions, except with chromic acid. 

 Comparing the reactions of C. lucilice with C. tmolusi, it will be observed that the former has a dis- 



