GENERA CRINUM AND ZEPHYRANTHE8. 



639 



NOTES ON THE STARCHES OF CRINUM. 



These starches exhibit some minor gross histological differences, such, for instance, as in C. 

 americanum the less number of compound grains and aggregates, the less fissuration of the hilum, 

 the more visible lamells, and the smaller grains. The two starches differ in every one of the reac- 

 tions, although to a negligible degree with Purdy's solution. Excepting the polarization and tem- 

 perature reactions, C. americanum is the more responsive with every reagent. 



GENUS ZEPHYFIANTHES. 



Zephyranthes, the small amaryllis, zephyr lily, fairy lily, or swamp lily, according to Baker 

 includes 34 species, which may be grouped into 3 subgenera. They are natives of the warmer parts 

 of America, especially from Texas south. The starches from two species were studied; Z. Candida 

 Herb, and Z. rosea Lindl. 



STARCH OF ZEPHYRANTHES CANDIDA. (Plate 54, figs. 319 and 320. Chart 214.) 



Histological Characteristics. — In form the grains are simple and isolated, with the exception of 

 a few small aggregates. Pressure facets were seen on some of the isolated grains. There are no 

 clumps. The surface is rather irregular, owing to the unequal development of the surface, chiefly 

 in the form of nipple-like processes and round protuberances and depressions of varying size. The 

 conspicuous forms are the ovoid to spherical and oval to elliptical. There are also triangular, 

 hemispherical, reniform, pyriform, and various irregular forms. The grains are, as a rule, about 

 one-half to two-thirds as thick as they are broad. They vary in shape in different aspects, according 

 to the size and position of the projections and depressions of their surfaces. 



The hilum is a fairly distinct, small, round, or rather large lenticular spot, usually eccentric 

 about one-third of the longitudinal axis; centric in some grains with the lenticular hila. There 

 are often double and sometimes multiple hila. The hilum 

 is frequently fissured, and there may be one fissure, small 

 or large, rather ragged and irregular and running trans- 

 versely; or two irregular large fissures forming a cross; 

 or a number of ragged fissures arranged in an irregularly 

 stellate fashion. In the case of multiple hila there is 

 usually a row of such irregularly stellate fissures, one set 

 marking each hilum. 



The lamellce are fairly distinct, rather coarse, contin- 

 uous rings; fairly regular in form near the hilum, but 

 very irregular near the margin, and sometimes discontinu- 

 ous as they follow the marginal outline. They are much 

 coarser and more distinct near the hilum than near the 

 margin and vary in distinctness in different grains. There 

 are about 8 to 10 lamellae on the larger grains. 



The grains vary in size from 4 to 38;u. The common 

 size is 24/1. 



Polariscopic Properties. — The figure is usually eccen- 

 tric, distinct, irregular, and rarely clear-cut. Its lines 

 are often blurred, bent, and otherwise distorted, and are 

 placed at varying angles with one another. It usually consists of four converging lines forming 

 an X-shaped figure. 



The degree of polarization is high. It varies somewhat in different grains and in different 

 aspects of the same grain (being higher when the grain is viewed on end or edge) ; also in different 

 parts of the same aspect of a given grain. An area centrally located, sometimes quite large, is iso- 

 tropic, so that in some instances only marginal parts of the grain are illuminated. 



With selenite the quadrants are not well defined, are irregular in form, and unequal in size. 

 The colors are usually quite 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 rather rapidly. After heating 

 in water imtil the grains are completely gelatinized, the solution colors fairly and most of the grains 

 deeply or lightly on the addition of iodine. The capsules of the grains that color lightly become 



Curve of Reaction-Intensities of Starch of Zephyranthes 

 Candida. 



