586 



STARCHES OF LILIACEiE. 



Chart No. 170. 



With ferric chloride the reaction begins in a few grains in 30 seconds. About two-thirds are 

 completely gelatinized in 10 minutes, nearly all in 25 minutes, and all in 35 minutes. The reaction 

 is the same qualitatively as that of the grains of M. botryoides. 



The reaction with Purdy's solution begins in about one-fifth of the grains at once and these 

 are completely gelatinized in 30 seconds, and most of the grains are affected in 30 seconds. Half 

 are completely and half partially gelatinized in IJ/^ hours. 



STARCH OF MUSCARI COMOSUM. (Plate 44, figs. 263 and 264. Chart 170.) 



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

 grains, and a number of aggregates mostly consisting of a large grain and a small one and a few 

 clumps. Pressure facets are found on some of the isolated grains. The surface is varied and com- 

 monly somewhat irregular. Besides slight unevenness of outline, more or less marked rounded 

 protuberances and nipple-like projections at different points may sometimes exist. The conspicuous 

 forms of the small grains are round, oval, and ovoid, and of the large grains oval, elliptical, and clam- 

 shell-shaped, and transition forms from the ovoid to the last. When viewed on edge, they are flat- 

 tened ellipses, or somewhat lenticular, or wedge-shaped. 

 These grains show a greater tendency to the oval, ellip- 

 tical, and clam-shell types than those of M. botryoides; 

 fissuration of the hilum is the rule, not the exception. 



The hilum is a distinct round or oval spot, centric in 

 the small round grains and eccentric from two-fifths to 

 one-fourth of the longitudinal axis in the large grains. 

 Two or more hila sometimes occur on one grain. The 

 hilum is generally fissured, especially on the large grains. 

 These fissures may be longitudinal, or transverse, or two 

 may form a cross. Sometimes from one aspect of the 

 grain the fissure appears as a Y, while from another it is 

 found to be a cross that is formed of one long arm pass- 

 ing through the hilum, and coinciding with the longitudi- 

 nal axis, and having two lateral lines near one end and 

 directed somewhat towards the proximal margin. Fis- 

 sures forming stellate and irregular figures may be seen 

 in place of the hilum, while fissures mostly crescent- 

 shaped may also be noted in other parts of the grain. 



The lamellcB are rather fine, fairly distinct, complete 

 ellipses or rings near the hilum; they are more distinct but finer near the margin and the distal 

 end. There is usually one prominent lamella about one-third the distance from the hilum. The 

 lamellae are usually regular, but sometimes irregular near the distal or lateral margins. There are 

 about 14 or 15 in the larger grains. 



The grains vary in size from 4 to 43/t(. The common size is 24 by 28/i in length and breadth. 



Polariscopic Properties. — The figure is centric or slightly eccentric, distinct, but not clear-cut ex- 

 cept in the smaller forms. Its lines are usually straight and rather thick, somewhat thicker towards the 

 margin ; they are occasionally bisected, and in the larger, irregular forms are bent or otherwise distorted. 



The degree of polarization is high. In the large grains it is rather high to very high, and in the 

 smallest grains it is fair. It varies in different parts of the same aspect of a given grain. It is, as 

 a whole, not so high as in M. botryoides. 



With selenite the quadrants in the smallest grains and also in some of the large ones are fairly 

 well defined, quite regular in shape, and about equal in size. In other grains, especially the largest, 

 they are irregular in shape and of unequal size. In some forms the colors are pure, while in many 

 they are not. 



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, the solution colors deeply and the grains very deeply on the addition of iodine. After 

 boiling for 2 minutes the solution colors very deeply and the grain-residues deeply to lightly. 

 The capsules all color a red-violet with an excess of iodine. 



