GENTTS GALANTHTJS. 



657 



01 PA CA 

 POPS 



The grains vary in size from 12 to 44/x. Ttie common size is 28m. 



Polariscopic Properties. — The figure is eccentric, distinct, but not always clear-cut. Its lines 

 are broad, usually broader and less distinctly defined as they near the margin; they are frequently 

 bent and otherwise distorted. 



The degree of polarization is fairly high. It is lower at the distal end of some grains than at 

 the proximal end, and varies much in different grains. Large portions of a grain may be dark. It 

 is the same as that of the grains of G. nivalis, but the lines and the dark areas are more pronounced. 



With selenite the quadrants are fairly well defined, fairly regular in shape, and unequal in size. 

 The colors are fairly pure. 



Iodine Reactions.— With 0.25 per cent Lugol's solution the grains are colored at once a deep blue- 

 violet, some more than others; with 0.125 per cent solution the grains color fairly lightly, some more 

 than others, and the color deepens rapidly. It is slightly deeper than that of the grains of G. nivalis. 

 After heating in water until all the grains are completely 

 gelatinized, the solution is colored lightly and the grains 

 usually very deeply on the addition of iodine. Some 

 grains, which do not stain so deeply as others, show a 

 violet capsule upon the addition of an excess of iodine. 

 After boiling for 2 minutes the solution is colored much 

 more deeply, but the grain-residues much less or not at 

 all. With an excess of iodine the capsules become violet 

 or reddish-violet. 



Staining Reactions. — ^With gentian violet the grains 

 begin to stain at once and after 30 minutes are colored 

 fairly deep to deep. The color is the same as that of the 

 grains of G. nivalis. 



With safranin the grains begin to stain immediately 

 very lightly and after 30 minutes are colored fairly deep 

 to deep. The color is slightly deeper that that of the 

 grains of G. nivalis. 



Temperature Reaction. — The temperature of gelatin- 

 ization is 69° to 71° C, mean 70°. 



Effects of Various Reagents. — With chloral hydrate- 

 iodine reaction begins immediately. About half are gelatinized in 5 minutes and gelatinization is 

 complete in all except very rare resistant grains in 30 minutes. The latter may not be fully gel- 

 atinized until 60 minutes. The reaction is qualitatively the same as that of the grains of G. nivalis. 



The reaction with chromic acid begins in 20 seconds and is over in 6 minutes. The reaction is 

 qualitatively the same as that of the grains of G. nivalis. 



Reaction with pyrogallic acid begins in some grains in Z}4 minutes and is general in 7 minutes. 

 About one-fourth are gelatinized in 25 minutes, and two-thirds are fully and one-third partially 

 gelatinized after 45 minutes. The reaction is qualitatively the same as that of the grains of G. nivalis. 



With ferric chloride some of the grains begin to react in Ij^ minutes; about one-third are af- 

 fected in 7 minutes, half are gelatinized in 15 minutes, and all except a few are completely gelat- 

 inized in an hour and 20 minutes. The reaction is qualitatively the same as that of the grains of 

 G. nivalis. 



With Purdy's solution some of the grains react in 30 seconds, and all are affected and one- 

 fourth fully gelatinized in 30 minutes. About half are gelatinized in an hour and about three-fourths 

 are fully gelatinized in IJ/^ hom-s. There is little fm-ther change. The reaction is qualitatively 

 the same as that of the grains of G. nivalis. 



MINUTES 



Curve of Reaction-Intensities of Starch of 

 Galanthus elwesii. 



