554 



STARCHES OF LILIACEiB. 



Differentiation of Certain Starches of the Genus Puschkinia. 



Histological Characteristics. 

 Compicuous Forms. 



P. scUloides: Usually simple, a few compound grains usu- 

 ally consisting of 1, 2, or 3 components; many 

 small aggregates of comp)onents similar to com- 

 pound grains; surface somewhat irregular. Ovoid 

 and oval with rounded ends or squared distal end 

 and broader at proximal end; triangular with 

 rounded comers. Few poorly defined pressure 

 facets. 



P. leilloides var. libanotica: Essentially the same as in P. 

 tcilloides, except a tendency to greater irregularity. 



Hilum — Form, Number, and Position. 

 P. tcilloides: Form distinct, fairly large, round; single 



or multiple: often fissured; fissure short or long, 



narrow or broad, ragged or clean-cut. Position 



eccentric, usually 0.33 to 0.25. 

 P. tcilloides var. libanotica: Form essentially the same as 



in P. scUloides. Position eccentric, usually 0.40 to 



0.25. 



LameUte — General Characteristics and Number. 

 P. tcilloides: Fairly distinct, usually continuous, coarse, 



irregular; usually discontinuous near distal end. 



6 to 8 on larger grains. 

 P. tcilloides var. l^anolica: Essentially the same as in 



P. tcilloides. 12 to 14 on larger grains. 



Size. 

 P. scUloides: From 4 to 2Qii, commonly 15/:t. 

 P. scUloides var. libanotica. From 3 to 30^, commonly 20/i. 



PoLARiscopic Properties. 



Figure. 



P. tcilloides: Eccentric, distinct, not entirely clear-cut, 



generally somewhat irregular. 

 P. tcilloides var. libanotica: Essentially the same as in 

 P. scUloides. 



Degree of Polarization. 



P. scUloides: Fairly high. 



P. scUloides var. libanotica: Fairly high, slightly higher 

 than in P. scUloides. 



Polarization with Selenite — Quadrants and Colors. 

 P. scUloides: Quadrants fairly well defined, generally 



somewhat irregular, unequal in size. Colors 



usually pure. 

 P. scUloides var. libanotica: Quadrants essentially the 



same as in P. scUloides, but more irregular in 



shape and more unequal in size. Colors pure. 



Iodine Reactions. 



Intensity and Color. 

 P. scUloides: Deep; blue-violet. 



P. scUloides var. libanotica: Deep, slightly deeper than 

 in P. scUloides; blue-violet. 



Staining Reactions. 

 With Gentian Violet. 

 P. scUloides: Light. 



P. scUloides var. libanotica: Light, deeper than in P. 

 scUloides. 



With Safranin. 

 P. scUloides: Ijght. 



P. scUloides var. libanotica: Light, deeper than in P. 

 snUoides. 



Temperature op Gblatinization. 

 P. scUloides: 55.8 to 56.9° C, mean 56.35°. 

 P. scUloides var. libanotica: 55.6 to 57.8° C, mean 56.7°. 



Effects of Various Reagents. 

 Reaction with Chloral Hydrate-Iodine. 

 P. scUloides: Begins in 30 seconds; complete in 10 min- 

 utes. 

 P. scUloides var. libanotica: Begins in 30 seconds; com- 

 plete in 13 minutes. 



Reaction with Chromic Acid. 



P. scUloides: Begins in a few seconds; complete in a 

 minute. 



P. scUloides var. libanotica: Begins in 15 seconds; com- 

 plete in a minute. 



Reaction with Pyrogallic Acid. 



P. scUloides: Begins in 15 seconds; complete in IJ^ 

 minutes. 



P. scUloides var. libanotica: Begins in 15 seconds; com- 

 plete in 2J^ minutes. 



Reaction with Ferric Chloride. 



P. scUloides: Begins in some in 60 seconds; complete in 



20 minutes. 

 P. scUloides var. libanotica: Begins in some in 45 seconds; 



complete in 20 minutes. 



Reaction wUh Purdy's Solution. 



P. scUloides: Begins at once; complete in three-fourths 

 of the grains in 3 minutes, and in nearly all in 

 12 minutes. 



P. scUloides var. libanotica: Begins in 15 seconds; com- 

 plete in all in 20 minutes. 



NOTES ON THE STARCHES OF PUSCHKINIA. 



The two Puschkinia starches are so alike in their histological characteristics and reactions 

 that a certain diagnosis is doubtful. One of them came from a recognized species and the other 

 from what is probably a variety of the same species, and as a consequence but little difference could 

 be looked for. Such differences as were recorded are almost wholly within the limits of error. As the 

 records stand, P. scilloides is distinguishable by the somewhat smaller grains, fewer lamellie, lower 

 polarization, less purity of colors with selenite, lower reaction-intensities with iodine and the anilines, 

 lower temperature of gelatinization, greater sensitivity to chloral hydrate-iodine and pyrogallic 

 acid, and less sensitivity to Purdy's solution. With weaker chemical reagents the differences would 

 doubtless be accentuated. 



