642 



STARCHES OF AMARYLLIDACEiE. 



Differentiation of Certain Starches of the Genus Zephyranthes. 



Histological Chabactebistics. 

 Conspicuous Forms. 

 Z. Candida: Simple, few aggregates; surface irregular, due 

 to unequal development. Ovoid to spherical, oval 

 to elliptical. 

 Z. rosea: Elssentially the same as in Z. Candida. 



HUum — Form, Number, and Position. 



Z. Candida: Form fairly distinct, small, round or rather 

 lenticular spot; usually single, but often double, 

 rarely multiple; often fissured, fissures small or 

 large, ragged, single or multiple. Position usually 

 eccentric about 0.33 to 0.40 of longitudinal axis. 



Z. rosea: Form not distinct; small, round, rarely lentic- 

 ular spot; rarely double; seldom fissured, fissures 

 single, narrow and short, clean-cut or ragged. 

 Position usually eccentric 0.33 to 0.40 of longi- 

 tudinal axis. 



Lamella — General Characteristics and Nuniber. 



Z. Candida: Fairly distinct, rather coarse, continuous, 

 fairly regular near hilum, irregtalar near the margin. 

 8 to 10 on larger grains. 



Z. rosea: Very indistinct, (aitly coarse, regular, continu- 

 ous. Number not determined. 



Size. 



Z. Candida: From 4 to 38>i, commonly 24/i. 

 Z. rosea: From 4 to 40m. commonly 26/«. 



PoLAKiBCOPic Properties. 



Figure. 



Z. Candida: Usually eccentric, distinct, not clear-cut, ir- 

 regular. 

 Z. rosea: Same as in Z. Candida. 



Degree of Polarization. 



Z. Candida: High, varies somewhat. 



Z. rosea: Fairly high, less than in Z. Candida. 



Polarization with Selenite — Qtiadranls and Colors. 



Z. Candida: Quadrants not well defined, irregular in form, 

 unequal in size. Colors usually quite pure. 



Z. rosea: Quadrants the same as in Z. Candida. Colors 

 fairly pure. 



Iodine Reactions. 



Intensity and Color. 



Z. Candida: Deep; blue-violet. 



Z. rosea: Deep, not so deep as in Z. Candida; blue-violet. 



Staining Reactions. 



With Gentian Violet. 

 Z. Candida: Light. 

 Z. rosea: Light, a little deeper than in Z. Candida. 



With Safranin. 

 Z. Candida: Light. 

 Z. rosea: Light, a little deeper than in Z. Candida. 



Temperature of Gblatinization. 

 Z. Candida: 72 to 74° C, mean 73°. 

 Z. rosea: 75 to 77° C, mean 76°. 



Effects of Various Reagents. 



Reaction with Chloral Hydrate-Iodine. 



Z. Candida: Begins in most in 2 minutes; complete in 



three-fourths in 50 minutes. 

 Z. rosea: Begins in most in 2J^ minutes; complete in 

 four-fifths in 75 minutes. 



Reaction with Chromic Acid. 



Z. Candida: Begins in all in a minute; complete in 5)^ 

 minutes. 



Z. rosea: Begins in all in 1}^ minutes; complete in 6 min- 

 utes. 



Reaction vrith Pyrogallic Acid. 



Z. Candida: Begins in all in 1 J^ minutes; complete in 35 

 minutes. 



Z. rosea: Begins in all in 1 }^ minutes; complete in almost 

 all in 30 minutes. 



Reaction with Ferric Chloride. 

 Z. Candida: Begins in a few in a minute; complete in 40 



minutes. 

 Z. rosea: Begins in a few in a minute; complete in 50 



minutes. 



Reaction wUh Purdy's Solution. 

 Z. Candida: Begins in many in a minute; many partially 



and one-fourth completely gelatinized in 30 minutes. 

 Z. rosea: Begins in most in 1 J^ minutes; a very few are 



partially gelatinized in 30 minutes. 



NOTES ON THE STARCHES OF ZEPHYRANTHES. 



In histological characteristics the main difference between the two starches is in the degree of 

 distinctness of the hilum and lamellae. Their reaction intensities differ in every case. The reaction 

 of Z. Candida is greater in polarization and with heat, iodine, chloral hydrate-iodine, chromic acid, 

 ferric chloride, and Purdy's solution; and less with the anilines and pyrogallic acid. The difference 

 in the temperature of gelatinization is 3°. On the whole, the grains are quite resistant to the 

 various reagents except iodine. 



GENUS SPREKEUA. 



The genus Sprekelia, like Amaryllis and Vallota, includes but a single species, S.formosissima Herb. 

 {Amaryllis formosissima Linn). It is a native of Mexico and is commonly known as the Jacobsea lily. 



STARCH OF SPREKELLA. FORMOSISSIMA. (Plate 63, figs. 317 and 318. Chart 216.) 



Histological Characteristics. — In form the grains are usually simple and isolated. Compound 

 grains and aggregates, consisting of generally two components, and clumps are occasionally observed. 

 Some isolated grains have pressure facets. The surface is quite smooth but often irregular, due 

 chiefly to the following causes: a slightly undulating outline; a protuberance at either side of the 

 hilum; either a finger- or a nipple-shaped projection at the proximal end; additional sets of lamellae 

 placed at varying angles to the primary set or inclosing the primary set. The conspicuous forms 

 are elongated ovoid to nearly round, and oval to ellipsoidal, which are sometimes slightly flat- 



