QENTJ8 NARCISSUS. 



675 



aart No. 236. 



GV S T CI CA PA eC. P3 CI PA CA 



of the median line. It is almost invariably fissured, and the fissuration may be in the form of a 

 single straight or double curved transverse line, or a 3-armed figure, or a cross, or large and very 

 irregular and ragged. There may be double and even multiple hila. 



The lamellce are commonly invisible, and when they can be seen they appear as fairly regular, 

 coarse rings which tend to follow the outline of the margin. The number could not be determined. 



The grains vary in size from 3 to iO/x. The common size is 26fi. 



Polariscopic Properties. — The figure is usually eccentric, distinct, and generally not sharply 

 defined. One or two of its lines may be broadened and not clear-cut in some parts of their length, 

 and they may be bent and otherwise distorted. 



The degree of polarization is high. It varies greatly in different grains, also in different aspects 

 of the same grain and in the same aspect of a given grain. It is about the same as that of the 

 grains of N. horsfieldii. 



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

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

 The colors are sometimes pure. 



Iodine Reactions. — With 0.25 per cent Lugol's solu- 

 tion the grains color a deep blue-violet; with 0.125 per 

 cent solution they color fairly and the color deepens 

 slowly. The grains are colored more deeply than those 

 of N. horsfieldii. After heating in water until the grains 

 are completely gelatinized, the solution colors fairly 

 deeply and the grains deeply on the addition of iodine. 

 After boiling for 2 minutes the solution colors more 

 deeply and the grain-residues less. The capsules color 

 violet with an excess of iodine, and all of them retain 

 some blue-reacting starch. 



Staining Reactions. — With gentian violet the grains 

 begin to stain in 3 minutes and in 30 minutes are fairly 

 stained, some more than others. The color is somewhat 

 less than that of the grains of N. horsfieldii. 



With safranin the grains begin to stain in 3 min- 

 utes, and in 30 minutes are lightly stained, but every one of the same shade, 

 than that of the grains of N. horsfieldii. 



Temperature Reaction. — The temperature of gelatinization is 74° to 76° C, mean 75°. 



Effects of Various Reagents. — With chloral hydrate-iodine the reaction begins in most grains in 

 3 minutes. About one-fourth are completely gelatinized in 15 minutes, one-third in 25 minutes, 

 one-half in 35 minutes, and two-thirds in 50 minutes. The reaction is qualitatively the same as 

 that of the grains of A'', horsfieldii. 



The reaction with chromic add begins in some grains in 30 seconds, in all in a minute, and is 

 over in 5 minutes. It is the same qualitatively as that of the grains of A^. horsfieldii. 



Reaction with pyrogallic acid begins in all the grains in 23^ minutes. About one-fourth are 

 completely gelatinized in 8 minutes, one-half in 11 minutes, two-thirds in 15 minutes, and all in 22 

 minutes. The reaction is the same qualitatively as that of the grains of N. horsfieldii. 



The reaction with ferric chloride begins in a few in 3 minutes. About one-fourth are gelatinized 

 in 22 minutes, one-half in 28 minutes, nearly all in 50 minutes, and all in an hour. The reaction is 

 qualitatively the same as that of the grains of A'^. horsfieldii. 



With Purdy's solution there is a slight reaction in a few grains in 15 minutes. The reaction is 

 the same qualitatively as that of N. horsfieldii. 



STARCH OF NARCISSUS JONQUILLA. (Plate 61, figs. 363 and 364. Chart 237.) 



Histological Characteristics. — In form the grains are usually simple. There are a few compound 

 grains and aggregates. Pressure facets are rare. In some instances it is impossible to determine 

 whether the grains are compound or simple grains with multiple hila. The surface of the grains 

 is often irregular, owing chiefly to rounded protrusions and nipple-like processes. The conspicuous 

 forms are ovoid to oval and elliptical, irregularly quadrilateral and triangular. There are also 

 lenticular, pyriform having a narrow part which is often very small, polygonal forms, hemispherical, 



Curve of Reaction-Intensittes of Starch of 

 Narcissus biflorus. 



The color is less 



