634 STARCHES OF AMAKYLLIDACE^. 



With safranin the grains begin to stain at once and in 30 minutes are fairly deeply stained, 

 one as much as another. 



Temperature Reaction. — The temperature of gelatinization is 73.5° to 75° C, mean 74.25°. 



Effects of Various Reagents. — With chloral hydrate-iodine reaction begins in some grains in 30 

 seconds. About half are gelatinized in 15 minutes, four-fifths in 50 minutes, and almost all in Ij^ 

 hours. The reaction begins at the distal end, which becomes dark. Usually this coloration then 

 extends around the entire margin, and over the whole surface of the grain, unaccompanied by 

 swelling; but sometimes it extends upward and inward from the distal end only, then the process 

 proceeds inward from all points on the surface until the whole grain is involved, and as it proceeds 

 inward there is slight swelling of the grain. The gelatinized grains are not very large, are of a uni- 

 form dark color, and retain much of the original form. 



Reaction with chromic acid begins in most grains in 30 seconds, in all in a minute, and is over 

 in A]/^ minutes. It originates at the hilum, which begins to swell, and a small bubble forms which 

 slightly increases in size, then decreases, and then disappears. The hilum and the rest of the grain 

 swell, and fine strise appear radiating in all directions from the hilum. The less resistant central 

 starch is gelatinized and the more resistant outer starch collects at the margin in the form of a 

 thick, finely striated ring, which becomes progressively thinner and transparent. Finally, the 

 proximal end of the ring or capsule, which is thinner than the rest, is dissolved, and the gelat- 

 inized starch flows out and into solution, followed by solution of the remainder of the marginal 

 ring or capsule. 



Reaction with pyrogallic add begins in most grains in a minute. In 5 minutes all are partially 

 and some are completely gelatinized, and all are completely gelatinized in 25 minutes. The reac- 

 tion begins as a swelling of the hilum and by the appearance of very fine strise which radiate in all 

 directions from the hilum. As the hilum and other parts continue to swell the less resistant central 

 starch is transformed to a gelatinous mass, and the more resistant outer starch is gathered at the 

 margin in the form of a thick, homogeneous-looking, smooth ring or capsule. The ring becomes 

 thinner and transparent as swelling continues and for some time after the swelling has ceased. The 

 gelatinized grains are large, folded, and wrinkled, and do not retain much of the original shape. 



The reaction with ferric chloride begins in a few grains in 1% minutes. About two-thirds are 

 gelatinized in 15 minutes, nearly all in 37 minutes, and all in 55 minutes. The reaction begins at 

 the hilum, where a small bubble forms. The hilum swells and the bubble increases in size up to a 

 certain point, then decreases, and finally disappears; but the hilum continues to swell and so does 

 the grain, as a whole. The inner part of the grain now appears to pass into a gelatinous mass, and 

 the marginal portion is formed into a thick, homogeneous ring which rapidly becomes thinner and 

 transparent and capsular, and invaginates in two or three places as swelling continues. The gelat- 

 inized grains are large and smooth, but do not retain much of the original shape. 



With Purdy's solution there is a slight reaction in some grains in 13^ minutes. About half of 

 the grains are partially gelatinized in 15 minutes and two-thirds in 25 minutes. The reaction is 

 the same qualitatively as that of the grains with pyrogallic acid. 



GENUS CRINUM. 



The genus Crinum includes about 60 species of bulbous tropical and subtropical plants which 

 have a wide geographical distribution. The Asiatic poison bulb, which is used by natives of the 

 East as an emetic in cases of poisoning, is from C. asiaticum. Fully half of the species are in culti- 

 vation and a number of hybrids have been recorded. The close relationship of Crinum to Amaryllis 

 has been noted under the latter. The starches of two species were examined, including C . jimhriatvlum 

 Baker and C. americanum Linn., the Florida swamp lily. 



STARCH OF CRINUM FIMBRIATULUM. (Plate 53, figs. 313 and 314. Chart 212.) 



Histological Characteristics. — In form the grains are almost wholly simple, and are isolated, with 

 the exception of a few in small aggregates, which frequently consist of one large component with one 

 or two rather small ones at the distal end or rarely at the side near the distal end. Pressure facets 

 are occasionally found on the isolated grains. A few compound grains are present. The grains are 

 often uregular, owing chiefly to the following causes: to a slight shifting of the longitudinal axis 

 of the lamellae during their deposition, rarely causing those of later formation to be placed at right 

 angles to the primary set; the presence of one or more small, rounded protuberances; to slight 



