590 



STARCHES OP LILIACEiE. 



PS CI PA CA 

 ~ PC PS 



and rounded protuberances formed by amorphous deposits. The conspicuous forms are ovoid, 

 oval, and ellipsoidal; the latter may or may not have two ends of the same size; also there may be 

 pyriform, triangular, ellipsoidal bent at or near the middle, thin and narrow lenticular, small roimd, 

 and a few quadrangular or polygonal forms. When the grains are rolled over it is noticed that at 

 any given diameter they are generally of about the same thickness, hence when seen on end are 

 nearly round. Grains having large, irregular protuberances from the surface appear broader in 

 the diameter of one aspect than of another. 



The hilum is distinct, and when not fissured is a small round spot, eccentric about one-third 

 of the longitudinal axis of the grain. It is usually in or near the median line and is rarely double 

 or triple. When fissured, as is frequently the case, the fissuration may be superficial, or very deep 

 and extensive, but it is often 3-armed and usually very ragged. The fissure may also be transverse, 

 diagonal, ragged, or stellate. Rarely it is a true cross. 



The lamellw are fairly distinct, continuous, coarse rings which follow the outline of the margin, 

 but show some irregularities independent of the marginal outline of the grain. They are coarser 

 and more distinct in some grains than others. There is 

 usually one on each grain that may be near the hilum or 

 the margin that is especially distinct. There are about 8 

 to 10 lamellae on the medium-sized grains. If there is 

 more than one hilum, the two are inclosed in a common 

 lamella, but there is an absence of lamellae belonging to 

 each hilum. 



The grains vary in size from 2 to 60iu. The common 

 size is 35^1. 



Polariscopic Properties. — The figure is eccentric, dis- 

 tinct, and not always clear-cut. Its lines become broader 

 but less sharp as they near the margin of the grain. They 

 are often bent and otherwise distorted, and if there are 

 very wide fissures the figure may be more or less modified. 



The degree of polarization is high. Polarization is lack- 

 ing in some grains at points about the margin. It varies 

 in different grains and in different aspects of the same grain. 



With selenite the quadrants are not, as a rule, well 

 defined, and are irregular in shape and unequal in size. 

 The colors are pure. 



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

 which later deepens somewhat; with 0.125 per cent solution they are colored fairly and the color 

 deepens quickly. After raising the temperature to a point at which all the grains are completely 

 gelatinized, the grains are colored deeply and the solution fairly when iodine is added. In some of 

 the less deeply colored grains the capsule is colored violet. After boiling for 2 minutes the solu- 

 tion colors very deeply, but the grain-residues much less deeply. Some blue-reacting contents of 

 the capsules may remain in the proximal end of the capsule. At the distal end the capsules are 

 crumpled and lobulated, and all are colored violet. 



Staining Reactions. — With gentian violet the grains stain at once very lightly and even after 

 30 minutes they are lightly stained, some more than others. 



With safranin the grains stain at once very lightly. After 30 minutes they are stained lightly, 

 but rather more than with gentian violet, and some grains more than others. 



Temperature Reaction. — The temperature of gelatinization is 68° to 69° C, mean 69.5°. 



Effects of Various Reagents. — With chloral hydrate-iodine a very few grains show slight reaction 

 in 2 minutes. In 4 minutes about one-fourth to one-third begin to react, and some of those first 

 affected are darkened completely at that time. In an hour one-third are completely gelatinized. 

 There is no further change. The hilum becomes conspicuous as a dark bubble which soon disappears 

 without swelling. The lamellae are indistinct. The margin of the grain at the distal end becomes 

 dark and then swells slightly and smoothly. Irregular spots on the sides, and sometimes at the 

 hilum, become dark. All these foci swell somewhat and then become united, and the process passes 

 inward over the whole grain. The swollen grains are fairly large and may be somewhat distorted. 

 They usually show light fissures, where fissures pre-existed before gelatinization took place. 



Curve of Reaction-Intensities of Starch of Brodiaea 

 peduncularis. 



