582 



STARCHES OF LILIACE^. 



The size of the grain varies from 6 to 40/i in length. The common size is 28 by 24/i in length 

 and breadth. 



Polariscopic Properties. — The figure is centric or slightly eccentric, distinct, and usually fairly 

 clear-cut. The lines are rather thick, and thicker towards the margin, and are generally straight. 

 but occasionally bent or bisected. 



The degree of polarization is high. It varies in different grains and in the same aspect of a grain. 

 It is slightly higher than in M. botryaides. 



With selenite the quadrants are fairly well defined and regular in shape in the small forms 

 and in many of the large ones; but not infrequently irregular in shape and \mequal in size in the 

 large forms. The colors are usually pure. 



Iodine Reactions. — With 0.25 per cent Lugol's solution the grains color a deep blue-violet; 

 with 0.125 per cent solution they color fairly and the color deepens rapidly. It is not so deep as that 

 of the grains of M. botryoides. After heating in water until all the grains are completely gelatinized, 

 both the solution and the grains color deeply on the addition of iodine. After boiling for 2 minutes 

 the solution colors very deeply and the grain-residues 

 color deeply to lightly. The capsules all color a red-violet 

 with an excess of iodine. 



With gentian violet the grains begin to stain at once 

 and in 30 minutes are deeply stained, more deeply than 

 the grains of M. botryoides. 



With safranin the grains begin to stain at once and 

 in 30 minutes are fairly deeply stained, more deeply than 

 the grains of M. botryoides. 



Temperature Reaction. — The temperature of gelatin- 

 ization is 72° to 74° C, mean 73°. 



Effects of Various Reagents. — With chloral hydrate- 

 iodine all the grains begin to react in 30 minutes. About 

 half of them are gelatinized in 22 minutes, two-thirds in 

 35 minutes, and three-fourths in 48 minutes. The reac- 

 tion is qualitatively the same as that of the grains of 

 M. botryoides. 



Reaction with chromic acid begins in 15 seconds and 

 is over in 33^ minutes. It is the same qualitatively as 

 that of the grains of M. botryoides. 



The reaction with pyrogallic acid begins in some grains in 30 seconds and in all in a minute. 

 All are partially and one-fourth completely gelatinized in 8 minutes, four-fifths are completely 

 gelatinized in 20 minutes, and all in 35 minutes. The reaction is the same qualitatively as that 

 of the grains of M. botryoides. 



With ferric chloride the reaction begins in some grains in 45 seconds and in many in 13^ minutes. 

 Nearly all are completely gelatinized in 45 minutes and all in 56 minutes. The reaction is the same 

 qualitatively as that of the grains of M. botryoides. 



The reaction with Purdy's solution begins in some grains in 45 seconds and in all in 2 minutes. 

 About one-fifth are completely gelatinized in 15 minutes, and half are gelatinized in 40 minutes 

 without complete reaction in an hour in the others. The reaction is the same qualitatively as that 

 of the grains of M. botryoides. 



STARCH OF MUSCARI COMMUTATUM. (Plate 43, figs. 257 and 258. Chart 167.) 



Histological Characteristics. — In form the grains are usually simple. A few compound grains 

 and aggregates in the form of doublets frequently occur, as well as clumps; and poorly marked 

 pressure facets appear on some of the isolated grains. The surface is, on the whole, less regular 

 than in M. botryoides. The conspicuous forms are round, rounded oval to ovoid, with a few some- 

 what clam-shell-shaped; when viewed on edge they are flattened ellipses, lenticular or somewhat 

 wedge-shaped. These grains are distinctly smaller than M. botryoides, there is a greater tendency 

 to spherical forms, and fissuration is common. 



The hilum is sometimes seen as a round or oval spot; it is eccentric about four-ninths to one- 

 third of the longitudinal axis in the oval, ovoid, and shell-shaped forms, and in or near the median 



Curve of Reaction-Intensities of Starch of Muscart 

 conicum. 



